The Federal Government has directed indigenous firm Hasetins Commodities Limited to sustain all safety and precautionary measures at the site of its $400 million rare earth processing plant under construction in Nasarawa State.
A government delegation led by Mr. Ganiyu Imam, Director of Mining Inspectorate at the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (FMSMD), and Dr. Vivian Okono, Director of Mines Environmental Compliance, inspected the project located in the Uke community. The team assessed the facility's compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
Imam expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance observed but stressed that Hasetins must ensure all existing safety protocols remain in place throughout construction and operations.
The delegation also urged the company's management to implement a robust Community Development Agreement (CDA) to prevent potential disputes once the plant becomes fully operational and begins recording progress. Mr. Oladehinde Oladusi, a Deputy Director in the ministry who represented Dr. Okono, conveyed this advice.
Hasetins' Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Prince Jidayi, acknowledged the Federal Government's support and thanked Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, for his continued encouragement of the project.
First announced in June 2025, the plant is designed to become Africa's largest rare earth and critical minerals processing facility. Alake had pledged the ministry's backing for the foreign direct investment initiative, noting that it would facilitate genuine skills transfer and mark a significant step toward processing Nigeria's minerals domestically rather than exporting raw materials.
The plant's processing capacity is planned to expand from 6,000 to 18,000 metric tonnes. The Presidency has described the project as a landmark achievement under the Tinubu administration's push to transform the solid minerals sector into a driver of economic growth and diversification.
Nigeria remains Africa's leading energy producer but has struggled to maximise its mineral wealth due to inadequate incentives, illegal mining, low investment, and years of underfunding. As of 2025, the country's mining sector contributed less than 1% to gross domestic product.
