Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 15 people over alleged lithium processing at four plants, an enforcement case in a mineral sector the government is seeking to develop locally.
The EFCC said operatives from its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 carried out the operation Friday, Oct. 23, at plants in Ogere, Ogun State, after intelligence gathering and surveillance. The group included 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian.
Bags of lithium rocks and a trailer truck were among the materials recovered, the commission said. Its inventory also included 18 mobile devices, four laptops, two decoders and a television remote control. The EFCC did not give an amount or weight for the lithium.
Premium Times reported that the commission had not identified the suspects or explained how the plants were allegedly operating illegally, including whether they had the required approvals.
Nigeria’s government has made domestic mineral processing a stated policy priority. In July, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned a lithium plant in Nasarawa, with capacity of 6,000 metric tons a day and an investment of about $250 million. The ministry said Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake described the policy as requiring minerals to be processed in Nigeria before export. It presented the Nasarawa facility as part of a broader effort to support industrialization, create jobs and diversify the economy.
Batteries accounted for an estimated 88% of global lithium end use in 2025, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. The agency cited rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, grid storage, portable electronics and electric tools.
The reports gave no timetable for charges or a court appearance. EFCC Head of Media and Publicity Dele Oyewale said the suspects “will be charged to court” after investigations conclude.
