The federal government has been alerted to the activities of Chinese miners scavenging for Lithium.
The Miners Association of Nigeria made the call in Abuja warning that Nigeria was losing potential revenue and the development was a threat to Nigeria’s environment.
Dele Ayanleke, the National Secretary of the association told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that Lithium is a mineral used in making batteries and has witnessed a price uptick over the last few years due to rising electronic vehicle demand which needs lithium to make its most expensive parts- the car batteries.
Ayankele revealed that the rate at which the Chinese was scavenging mining sites searching for lithium minerals was alarming, even as he added that lithium is one of the main materials for producing batteries used in powering electric cars and the whole world is clamouring to go Green leaving fossil fuel behind.
He said Nigeria would be the biggest loser if the current development is not checked as Nigeria would end up buying electric batteries from China when the raw material is in abundance in the country..
“The Government should safeguard our lithium and revive all the moribund companies producing batteries in Nigeria to start using the lithium to produce electric batteries,” he said.
He also urged government to withdraw 100% ownership of minerals mined by foreign miners operating in Nigeria, stating that allowing the Chinese have 100% mining assets is not good enough for the indigenous mining investors.