From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, has said Nasarawa State is positioning itself as a frontrunner in Nigeria’s electric vehicle (EV) revolution, with projections that it may become the first state in the country to produce an electric car.
He added that the ambition is backed by the state’s abundant lithium deposits and the establishment of multi-million-dollar lithium processing factories.
The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, made this disclosure on Saturday during the “Second Year Impact Celebration” of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration, organised by the A.A. Sule House-to-House campaign group, led by Hajiya Hussaina Sule, daughter of the governor.
According to Dr Akabe, the discovery of lithium in commercial quantities under Governor Sule’s leadership has attracted global attention, particularly from major electric car manufacturers seeking to tap into the resource.
“Lithium was never discovered in Nasarawa State until the coming of Governor Abdullahi Sule,” he said. “Today, with the large deposits and the lithium factories that are springing up, Nasarawa will be the first to manufacture electric cars in Nigeria, next only to China.”
He praised Governor Sule’s transparency and prudent management of state resources, citing his open disclosure of financial inflows as exemplary.
“I have never met or heard of any governor who openly announces the amount received as allocation or refunds. Just recently, he declared that N9.7 billion was refunded to the state by the federal government and went on to consult stakeholders on how the money should be spent. I have never seen this kind of politics,” Akabe stated.
Speaking earlier, the organiser of the event, Hajiya Hussaina Sule, described her father as a silent achiever who has transformed the state through strategic leadership and integrity.
“Though my father is not one who seeks applause for doing what he was elected to do, the achievements he has recorded over the past six years are too significant to ignore,” she said. “He is a role model and an unmatched achiever. He has brought peace and economic progress to our state.”
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Sule thanked the organisers for assembling people from across the state to highlight his administration’s achievements. He attributed the economic momentum in Nasarawa to the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The attention of the world has shifted to Nasarawa State due to the discovery of lithium. China and other developed countries are now focusing on us because of the potential to support electric vehicle production,” the governor said.
Governor Sule reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for investors and harnessing the state’s mineral wealth to drive industrialisation and job creation.
“Nasarawa is ready for the future. We are building the foundation for a new economy powered by innovation, minerals, and strategic governance,” he stated.
The Sun gathered that the event, which drew stakeholders from various sectors, served as a platform to reflect on the governor’s strides in infrastructure, economic development, and good governance.