Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has been commended for his visionary leadership in collaborating with Hinkley Recycling, a United Kingdom (UK)-based company to introduce a cutting-edge technology in the lead and lithium recycling industry, which will deliver a significant economic boost to the state.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, gave this commendation during a joint press conference on investment in manufacturing, facilitated by OgunInvest, at Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, State Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, stating that the state government’s partnership with the UK e-waste recycling company would be beneficial to both parties.
“The strong UK group is not just bringing in a new recycling plant, but also introducing new technology that will grow into the foreign market. Given the rise of solar energy, electric vehicles and all the mobile technologies that use lithium batteries, this technology will help add value chain of this market. I just want to say congratulations to the state government and to Hinckley for reaching an agreement that I believe will be beneficial in the long run”, he said.
He acknowledged the initiatives of Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OgunInvest) to attract investors in the state, saying the UK government was seeking further opportunities to support government in initiating more investments that would positively impact the state and the broader Nigerian economy.
On his part, Managing Director, Hinckley Recycling, Mr. Andres Claws, said with assistance of Manufacturing Africa under the UK government, the company had taken the initiative to establish the first lithium and lead-acid battery recycling plant in the state, commending OgunInvest for its continuous support throughout the project.
Claws, who added that the large volume of used batteries in the country poses a significant danger due to its hazardous components, noted that the project, apart from its economic benefits, promotes safe and efficient e-waste recycling that would protect public health and reduce environmental pollution in the state, commending the Ministry of Environment for its cooperation and being instrumental to implementing the necessary reforms to support the project.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, said the Dapo Abiodun-led administration was highly intentional about the ease of doing business, which had helped to streamline bureaucratic bottlenecks and made it easier for businesses to thrive.
He noted that this laudable investment was a testament to the achievements of OgunInvest, saying the agency had been instrumental in bringing Hinckley to this stage and remains committed to assisting investors establish themselves in the state.
The Commissioner also highlighted the state government’s efforts to improve security and develop critical infrastructure, such as roads, to meet the needs of investors, pointing out that the present administration had been creating industrial clusters for emerging industries, to further position the state as the premier investment destination in Nigeria.
Earlier, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, described Ogun as the recycling hub of the country with over 1,500 metric tons of waste daily, adding that establishing a lithium recycling plant in the state was a strategic move and assured that government would fully support the initiative to ensure its success.