NEWS
Nasarawa Community Raises the Alarm over Lithium Spill
A cross-section of residents in KAMA community, Udege Development Area, Nasarawa Local Government, have raised concerns over alleged lithium mining spillage affecting farmland, waterways, and the environment in their community.
Lithium, a chemical rich in minerals, is used in batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy systems, making it economically valuable but potentially hazardous if its extraction is poorly managed.
Residents said in an interview on Thursday that mining spillage had hindered agricultural yield and polluted rivers, raising fears about long-term environmental and health consequences for the community.
They alleged that operations by Avatar New Energy Materials Co. Ltd. produced dust, wastewater, and chemical residues, creating uncertainty about air and water quality, while calling for Federal Government intervention to limit environmental risks.
Some residents noted that while lithium processing might benefit the national economy, contamination of soil and underground water sources, if unchecked, could pose serious health hazards to the people living near the operations.
Residents urged the company to take measures to safeguard community waterways and the environment, ensuring lithium processing did not compromise the safety of residents or their farmland.
Mohammed Amadu, a resident, said some residents who used to bathe in the community river often felt feverish for up to two weeks after exposure, prompting avoidance of the river entirely.
Another resident, Ibrahim Suleiman noted that lithium contamination began in Dec. 2025, and in spite of appeals to Nasarawa State Government, no intervention had been made to address the pollution or safeguard community health.
An anonymous resident said vibrations from extraction resembled landslides, while whitish substances from broken lithium ore floated in rivers and tributaries, raising concerns over chemical contamination of water used for daily chores.
Civil society organisation Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, called for government regulation of industrial-scale lithium mining to protect residents’ health and prevent environmental hazards from unmanaged spillage.
CAPPA Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi, warned that lack of oversight on mining activities could have adverse effects on host communities, including water and soil contamination from indiscriminate disposal of lithium waste.
“We are concerned about the implications of Lithium processing operations in communities, given the systemic flaws inherent in mining governance,” Oluwafemi said.
Environmental specialist Abang Johnson said that lithium processing must be carefully managed to avoid airborne and wastewater pollution, which could contaminate soil, underground water, and threaten kidney and thyroid health.
“The processing of Lithium without careful management could result in chemical airborne minerals and waste water pollution; all of which have potential to contaminate soil and groundwater sources.
“More so, most communities that are close to Lithium processing operations can be at risk, as taking of Lithium can result in the damage of human kidney and thyroid gland.
“I believe through government intervention, adequate awareness can be created to ensure community residents know proper ways to handle situations that could pose risks to their health.”
Johnson urged government intervention and public awareness to ensure residents know safe practices when living near lithium processing operations and mitigate potential chemical exposure risks.
Responding, PR Manager Benny Modey of Avatar New Energy Materials, denied the allegations, calling them false and asserting that Environmental Impact Assessments and routine regulatory inspections confirmed full compliance with safety standards.
“We are not experiencing any issues with pollution, spillage, or any of the claims that have been presented by individuals in the community.
“Some of these statements may be driven by propaganda intended to damage the reputation of the organisation. If such claims are made, they should be supported with verifiable facts, as these are serious allegations.
“To the best of my knowledge, no regulatory agency has confirmed any of these claims. In reality, these issues do not exist and are untrue.
“First and foremost, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted at the site to ensure all safety parameters are properly in place.
“In addition, various regulatory authorities carry out routine inspections to verify compliance and ensure that all safety protocols are being properly observed,” Modey said.
Modey said claims of pollution or spillage were unfounded, suggesting that some individuals might be spreading propaganda to tarnish the company’s reputation, and urged substantiated evidence from authorities before making such allegations.
Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Prince Interior Vocational Institute have taken a significant step toward strengthening entrepreneurship and practical skills development among its students aimed at training professional furniture artisans.
The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is expected to produce over 500 furniture artisans within two years.
In her remarks during the signing of the MoU, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.
Sa’adatu Liman said that the collaboration was one of the criteria for TETFUND guidelines in entrepreneurial development output.Liman commended the company for finding the institution a worthy and reliable partner for the entrepreneurial and vocational project.
According to her, the partnership will be beneficial to the entire university community.
Earlier, the Director of the university Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), Prof. Rashidah Olanrewaju, said the university students will benefit from about 50 different skills in the EDC.
She appreciated the company for the partnership and wished the partners a successful and fruitful collaboration.
The Chief Executive Officer, Prince Interior Vocational Institute, Emeka Owgueke explained that the programme targets the establishment of a medium-scale furniture workshop on campus.
He said that the workshop will be equipped with the basic machines to sustain production and reduce the university’s overhead costs on furniture procurement.
According to Owgueke, the partnership represents a shared vision to create opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire marketable skills and build sustainable businesses within the furniture and interior design industry.
He explained that participants in the programme will be exposed to the entire furniture production value chain, including raw material sourcing, product manufacturing, finishing, branding, marketing, and distribution.
He said under the agreement, students of the university will receive hands-on training in furniture making, interior product design, and business development.
” Under the agreement, university students will be enrolled at Prince Interior Vocational Institute to acquire hands-on, certified training in furniture making, interior product design, and business development.
He commended the leadership of the University for recognising the importance of vocational education and enterprise development in addressing youth unemployment and building a resilient local economy.
“We are deeply grateful to Prof. Sa’adatu Liman and the leadership of the Nasarawa State University for recognising our uniqueness and extending this incredible opportunity to us.
” This partnership is more than an academic arrangement — it is a shared commitment to opening doors for more young Nigerians to boldly step into their career journey, whether from scratch, brushing up existing skills, or upgrading to the next level in the interior and design space.”
Students gain profitability-focused mentorship covering production, pricing, branding, and distribution of furniture goods.
Pope Leo calls for a ceasefire and denounces “horrific violence” in the Middle East
Pope Leo XIV has called for a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict as Israel and Iran continue to trade blows and the death toll across the region mounts.
“On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict: cease fire,” Leo said today after the Sunday Angelus prayer in Vatican City.
The first American pontiff said people in the region have been “suffering the horrific violence of war” for the past two weeks since the conflict broke out.
“Thousands of innocent people have been killed and many more forced to flee their homes. I once again offer my prayers to all those who have lost loved ones in the attacks that have struck schools, hospitals and residential areas,” he said.
Leo added that “violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace that the people are waiting for.”
FAAC Shares N1.894trn Feb Revenue to FG, States, LGCs
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
A total sum of N1.894 trillion, being February 2026 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States and the Local Government Councils.
The revenue was shared at the March 2026 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja, according to a statement by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the weekend.
The N1.894 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N1.274 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N619.119 billion.
A communiqué issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicated that total gross revenue of N2.230 trillion was available in the month of February 2026. Total deduction for cost of collection was N77.302 billion while total transfers, refunds and savings was N259.078 billion.
According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.561 trillion was received for the month of February 2026. This was lower than the sum of N1.957 trillion received in the preceding month by N395.138 billion.
Gross revenue of N668.450 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in February 2026. This was lower than the N1.083 trillion available in the month of January 2026 by N414.710 billion.
The communiqué stated that from the N1.894 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N675.088 billion and the State Governments received a total sum of N651,525 billion.
The Local government Council received N456.467 billion, while the sum of N110.949 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting State as derivation revenue.
On the N1.274 trillion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N613.174 billion and the State Governments received N311,010 billion.
The Local Government Councils received N239.776 billion and the sum of N110.949 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
From the N619.119 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N61.912 billion, the State Governments received N340.515 billion and the Local Government Councils received N216.692 billion.
In February 2026, Oil and Gas Royalty and Excise Duty increased significantly while Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), CGT and SDT and Value Added Tax (VAT) decreased substantially.
Import Duty and CET increased marginally
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