{"id":1613,"date":"2026-07-06T15:16:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T15:16:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=1613"},"modified":"2026-07-06T16:01:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T16:01:05","slug":"nigerian-government-hails-400m-rare-earth-plant-targeted-10000-jobs-with-improved-processing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=1613","title":{"rendered":"Nigerian Government hails $400m rare earth plant, targeted 10,000 jobs with improved processing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>*<strong><em>The Federal Government commends progress on $400 million rare earth project expected to boost jobs and local processing<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect<\/p>\n<p>For taking necessary precautionary and safety measures ahead of commencement of operations, the Federal Government has applauded the company promoters for the ongoing construction of a $400m rare earth processing plant in the Uke community of Nasarawa State of Nigeria.<\/p>\n<p><em>ConsumerConnect<\/em> reports the new facility is being constructed by Hasetins Commodities Limited.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ffR3st0Rbf\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=1617\">InFocus: Nigeria&#8217;s rising data costs, QoE and telecoms sustainability<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cInFocus: Nigeria\u2019s rising data costs, QoE and telecoms sustainability\u201d \u2014 Consumer Experience Is A Top Priority\" src=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=1617&amp;embed=true#?secret=5mlJPsb6Po#?secret=ffR3st0Rbf\" data-secret=\"ffR3st0Rbf\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The Federal Government&#8217;s delegation from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) recently, visited&nbsp; the site of the plant under construction in order to assess the level of compliance with relevant regulations and standards.<\/p>\n<p>It was gathered that the plant would add 12,000 tonnes per annum to the company\u2019s existing capacity.<\/p>\n<p>This will push the company&#8217;s total output to 18,000 tonnes per annum (tpa), thereby placing Nigeria as No.1 in Africa, in the area of rare earth processing.<\/p>\n<p>On the Federal Government&#8217;s delegation included the Director of Mining Inspectorate, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), Mr. Ganiyu Imam; and Director of Mines Environmental Compliance, Dr. Vivian Okono.<\/p>\n<p>The team expressed delight about the progress made so far, the commitment of the project managers, and their willingness to play by the rules in the solid minerals sector of the Nigerian economy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>On government&#8217;s approval of proper environmental assessment<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Speaking during the visit, Imam said the delegation was satisfied with the level of compliance with relevant requirements and standards, report stated.<\/p>\n<p>The MSMD Director of Mining Inspectorate urged Hasetins Commodities Limited to ensure that all necessary precautionary and safety measures in place are sustained during and after the construction project.<\/p>\n<p>A Deputy Director in the MSMD, Mr. Oladehinde Oladusi, who stood in for Dr. Okono, commended Hasetins for the quality of work, as well as modern standard equipment available at the site.<\/p>\n<p>Oladusi reportedly said: \u201cThe commitment that we have seen so far in respect of the way the company is starting is different from the narrative of just bumping into our environment, break the ground and carry our minerals away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can see equipment stacked properly, administrative block is there where you have the initial test machine to be put in place, and of course the cite under clearance.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Okono particularly commended Hasetins for not only carrying out a proper environmental assessment of the community but also having on ground advanced technology that would reduce to the barest minimum the hazards and dangers associated with mining.<\/p>\n<p>She said: \u201cOne of the first things that impressed me when you are putting up something like this is definitely the environment will be touched, and for this company to take the initiative to prepare a sound environmental and social impact assessment.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is one of the prerequisites to commence this kind of big project.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Okono further stated: \u201cI am quite impressed and what we need to do now is to encourage them to see that most of the mitigation measures that are inside that document are put in place.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI mentioned something which is one of the key obligations of a mineral title holder to prepare environmental and impact assessment.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When you mentioned rare earth minerals, the proponent already knows some of these minerals which are likely to contain some level of radioactive minerals.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Director of Mines Environmental Compliance noted: \u201cAccording to the MD there are other highly sensitive electromagnetic equipment that can separate anything that is included in this rare earth mineral to zero level.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He talked about the UK standard they are following, whereby if any material that get off their production contains element of radioactivity, they would be changed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It is equally observed that the mining sector would do well if the UK standard is adopted in Nigeria by ensuring that firms found guilty of polluting the environment are brought to book.<\/p>\n<p>The Ministry explained that if a mining form knows that there is a penalty or consequences for what he is doing, they would take necessary steps to protect the environment as well as workers in their respective factories.<\/p>\n<p>Okono said: \u201cEverything he did was just to tell us that this company is environmentally conscious and that is what we want.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And from what you met us doing to sensitising him on further environmental obligatory documents like the environmental protection and rehabilitation plan, where you dig, where you dump your waste, where you do some other activities, how you protect it and return it to near original state.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis are some of the things we are in town to do sensitisation so that they prepare the environmental assessment which is already a part of the environment and social impact assessment which they have prepared.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Commending the firm for putting in place a solid security arrangement, the Director, however advised the management of Hasetins to put in place a solid community development agreement, to prevent crisis in the future when work fully commences and the company begin to make progress.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Applause for Minister Dele Alake<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Commending the leadership of the Ministry, Okono affirmed that Dr. Dele Alake, Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, is not taking this aspect for granted in the sector of the economy.<\/p>\n<p>She stated: \u201cWe want to know how many catchment communities are here, target employment is going to be massive, when you have not started people would behave as if they are not interested but once you start you will see all kinds of things.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>According to the Director, a proper community agreement would ensure the transfer of socio-economic benefits to the host communities and in the long run ensure a win-win situation for everyone as well as establish a peaceful working environment.<\/p>\n<p>Okono said: \u201cBy sending invitation to us, to the ministry of solid minerals to be part of this occasion today, I feel that the company is not the type that shy away like some other countries and company who wants to shy away and do the shortcut.<\/p>\n<p>Prince Jidayi, Managing Director and CEO, Hasetins Commodities Limited, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, Dr. Alake and Kehinde Bamigbetan, his&nbsp; Special Assistant (SA), for their continued support and encouragement.<\/p>\n<p>Jidayi acknowledged the several innovations that his company has introduced to the processing of rare earth and critical metals in the country.<\/p>\n<p>He assured his company\u2019s host communities of continued support.<\/p>\n<p>Jidayi explained: \u201cFor decades the narrative has been of raw extraction and immediate export. Hasetins is advancing that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This plant will process rare earth metals and other critical like Tantalum, Tungsten tin and others.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Managing Director and CEO noted: \u201cIn doing so, we are strictly deploying advanced, closed-loop processing technologies designed to minimise environmental impact, manage Tailings responsibly and protect local water bodies and air quality.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe believe that extracting and processing the components of the world\u2019s green energy transition must not come at the expense of our local environment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Aside from Uke project, which is the company\u2019s central hub, Jidayi disclosed \u201cwe are setting up regional separation centres and satellite separation centres to integrate and formalise artisanal and small-scale miners into a structured, safe supply chain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are equipping them with gears, safety, training, support and offering them offtake structures that increases economic stability at rural communities.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*The Federal Government commends progress on $400 million rare earth project expected to boost jobs and local processing Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect For taking necessary&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"A Federal Government's Delegation to Plant Under Construction in Uke Community, Nasarawa State of 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