The Federal Government of Nigeria has thrown its weight behind a $400 million foreign direct investment project designed to establish Africa’s largest rare earth and critical minerals processing facility in Nasarawa State.
The project, spearheaded by Hasetins Commodities Limited, is projected to create over 10,000 jobs across Nigeria while enhancing the value of the country’s mineral resources through domestic processing.
Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, described the venture as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing industrialisation drive and a major step towards large-scale job creation. The minister emphasised that the initiative directly aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to prioritise value addition within the solid minerals sector.
Speaking during a visit by Hasetins’ management to his office, Alake praised the company’s ambition to expand its existing capacity from 6,000 metric tonnes to 18,000 metric tonnes with the development of the new facility. In a statement issued by his media aide, Segun Tomori, on Sunday, the minister declared that the project was tangible proof of the success of the government’s reforms.
He highlighted that, in addition to generating employment, the project would facilitate skills development, encourage the adoption of advanced technologies, and deepen the integration of Nigeria’s mining sector into the broader economy.
Hasetins Commodities, a Nigerian firm specialising in rare earth elements and platinum group metals, explained that its strategy focuses on early-stage beneficiation, where metals are pre-separated locally. This approach enables artisanal miners to earn higher incomes from their work.
Prince Jidayi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hasetins, attributed the company’s investment decision to the ongoing reforms in the sector, which have bolstered investor confidence under Alake’s leadership. He pointed to measures such as the deployment of mining marshals to combat illegal mining activities and streamlined processes for obtaining mining licences as examples of recent progress.
Beyond the flagship facility, Jidayi revealed that the company is also establishing regional separation plants and providing support to local miners and host communities. These efforts include training programmes, the distribution of protective equipment, and various empowerment initiatives aimed at improving local livelihoods.
Peter Butt, Hasetins’ Director of Corporate Affairs, praised the Federal Government for fostering a well-structured, investment-friendly environment within the mining sector. He noted that the minister’s strong emphasis on domestic value addition had encouraged the company to adopt a sustainable, community-centred approach to its development plans.
Alake reaffirmed the government’s full institutional support for the project and reiterated its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s mineral wealth into a cornerstone of economic diversification and industrial advancement.
Once operational, the new rare earth facility is expected to elevate Nigeria’s standing in the global critical minerals market, which supplies essential materials for advanced electronics, renewable energy technologies, and defence applications.