Ejiba, a quiet agrarian community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, is set for a major economic transformation following the commencement of construction of a large-scale lithium processing plant by a Chinese firm.
The facility, located along the banks of the Oyi River, signals one of the most significant industrial investments in Kogi State’s solid minerals sector in recent years.
Information gathered by BusinessDay, Monday, indicates that geological assessments show that Ejiba and neighbouring areas sit on lithium deposits projected to sustain commercial mining and processing activities for more than five decades.
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Lithium is a critical mineral in the global energy transition, widely used in the production of electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage systems and advanced electronics. According to sources, the Ejiba project positions Kogi State to benefit from growing international demand, potentially making the state a strategic node in Nigeria’s push to diversify its economy away from oil dependence.
Industry experts noted that the project is expected to stimulate local economic activity through direct and indirect job creation, increased internally generated revenue, and the development of supporting infrastructure such as roads, power supply and logistics services. Small businesses, artisans and service providers in Yagba West are also projected to benefit from the influx of workers and ancillary operations tied to the plant.
Beyond local gains, the project is said to align with federal efforts to expand value-added mineral processing within Nigeria, reducing the export of raw minerals and increasing foreign exchange earnings from processed products.
However, the plant’s location along the Oyi River—a major waterway serving multiple communities before draining into the River Niger—has raised environmental concerns among residents and civil society groups.
The river supports fishing, farming and domestic water use, making environmental protection a critical issue as construction progresses.
Community leaders and stakeholders are calling for strict adherence to environmental impact mitigation measures, transparent engagement with host communities, and clearly defined benefit-sharing arrangements to ensure that economic gains do not come at the expense of livelihoods or ecological safety.
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As construction advances, the Ejiba lithium project stands as both an economic opportunity and a test case for how Nigeria balances industrial growth with environmental stewardship and community inclusion.
