Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has said the proposed $400 million rare earth plant by the Hasetins Group is an eloquent testimony to the drive and willpower that the country can be built as an economic giant.
Alake stated this at the groundbreaking of $400m Rare Earth Plant of Hasetins Company in Uke, Karu local government area of Nasarawa state on Wednesday.
The 12,000 tons per annum state-of-the-art rare earth and critical metal processing plant targets creation of numerous job opportunities in the region, supporting local communities and promoting social and economic growth.
Rare earth metals play a pivotal role in modern technology, powering a variety of applications including electronics, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles and defence technologies.
The minister described the initiative as a patriotic revolution to set Nigeria on the path of self-reliance, commonwealth and prosperity for all.
Alake said under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, Renewed Hope is giving birth to self-reliance in the solid minerals sector which has brought a new era of economic prosperity.
He stated that remittances from licensing fees to the federation account have increased from N6 billion in 2023 to N12 billion in 2024 and N26 billion as at October, 2025.
“Under the leadership of President Tinubu, who has turned the solid minerals sector into the newest pillar of growth of the Nigerian economy, the seven-point agenda inspired by the Renewed Hope Agenda has increased the security of the sector, enabled more investors to mine, and enforced compliance with the mining laws.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the groundbreaking of the $400 million rare earth plant by the Hasetins Group today is an eloquent testimony to the drive and willpower of the Nigerian; the awakening of the national consciousness that tells us that we have no other country to call our own and the realisation that if countries that were comparatively worse and poorer than us three decades ago could suddenly emerge as economic giants today, then we can, and we shall build Nigeria as an economic giant as well.
“Dangote Refinery has shown that we can restore our capacity to refine our crude oil. Segilola/THOR has shown that we can refine our own gold. Avatar and ASBA have shown that we can separate and process our lithium. Hasetins Group shall demonstrate that we can separate, process, and refine our rare earths”, Alake noted.
In his remarks, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Abdullahi Sule, said his administration has always created the enabling environment for investors to come in with the strong believe that the state cannot develop to the level it wishes, unless investors are involved.
Represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, the governor acknowledged the efforts of President Tinubu towards enhancing the ease of doing business to attract investors into the country.
While underscoring the significance of the plant, he said: “rare metals are elements that drive the whole world. The MRA machines are products of these rare earth metals… Catalysis, propelling vehicles and the rest of them are all from there. So, you can imagine having such a plant in Nasarawa State. It is something that we in Nasarawa State will grab with our two hands and our two legs.
“Most of the developed worlds, they are not developed by the indigenous place but by the enabling environment that they created for investors to come in. And that is why we spend so much on our security to make sure that there is peace. Without peace and security, nobody wants to come and invest where there is chaos.”
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Hasetins Group, Prince Jidayi, said with the capacity to generate about 10,000 jobs and environmentally friendly manner, the facility will not only boost local and national economies, but also create numerous opportunities in the communities.
“We’re deeply committed to fostering a workforce that reflects the diversity and talent of all these regions that we operate at. And this plant we’re setting up, will embrace sustainable practices, ensuring that we protect our environment while we innovate and we advance.
“I would like to take a special moment to acknowledge the many individuals and organisations that have supported this. First, the Governor of Nasarawa State, the Deputy Governor and their team for the incredible work they have been doing in creating an investor friendly environment.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs for his efforts in enhancing diplomatic collaborations between certain countries that we had to operate and collaborate with; Minister of Labour and Employment. We also want to give a huge commendation to the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Dele Alake from his value addition policy to reforms in the mining sector.
“Your support is the reason this vision is a reality. Finally, as we break ground, let us also break ground on how we approach resource processing. Let us embrace innovation, invest in our people, and prioritise sustainability. Together, we will create a legacy not only for our country but for ourselves,” he added.
