ABUJA, June 22 (MENA) - Nigerian Minister of Solid Minerals Development Oladele Alake has announced the Federal Government’s support for the construction of a plant in Nasarawa State.

Alake said the plant was projected to generate more than 10,000 jobs nationwide, adding that it has a projection of dlrs 400 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister's Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, as saying.

According to him, the project is Africa’s largest rare earth and critical minerals plant, which a private organization, Hasetins Commodities Limited, will fund.

The minister lauded the funders for the move, noting that it aligns with the value addition campaign of President Bola Tinubu’s administration for in-country processing and beneficiation of minerals.

He said that the move was also a confirmation of the capacity to adopt mineral processing as a strategy in creating job opportunities.

“Hasetins hopes to add 12,000 metric tons to its current 6,000 metric tons installed capacity as preparations for the forthcoming groundbreaking of the additional facility gather momentum,” Alake added.

He described the move as a significant milestone in efforts to spur investor confidence in the mining sector.

He said that the firm would promote skills transfer and boost the contributions of the solid minerals sector to the economy.

“I applaud the company for its strategic foresight and patriotic investment in a 400 million rare earth metals plant,” he added. (MENA)

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