Nigeria’s artisanal lithium mining is drawing thousands seeking fortune, but concerns over illegal operations, environmental impact, and conflicts persist.
In Nasarawa State, miners, such as Abdullahi Ibrahim Ɗanjija earn twice the minimum wage extracting the metal vital for electric batteries and mobile phones.
Much of the mining is informal, with families, including children, working without permits or safety measures. Chinese companies dominate the trade, buying raw lithium and processing it locally before exporting it.
Nigeria aims to attract investment, but now requires foreign firms to set-up processing plants, a move that reportedly deterred Tesla’s Elon Musk.
Experts warn of poor regulation, environmental risks, and rising tensions between communities and mining firms. Illegal armed groups also exploit weak government oversight.
Meanwhile, miners continue their work, undeterred by hazardous conditions and frequent explosions.
