Lawal Unveils Auto Training Centre, Targets Global Lithium Market

By Babangida Abdullahi Gusau

Zamfara State has unveiled an ambitious plan to become a leading player in the global lithium battery industry as Governor Dauda Lawal declared that the state is ready to drive Nigeria’s transition to clean energy and industrial transformation.

Speaking at the commissioning of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) Automotive Training Centre in Gusau where over 100 youth were trained on the repairs and maintenance of PMS and CNG tricycle and motorcycles.

The governor said the facility represents a major step toward equipping young Nigerians with the technical skills required for the rapidly evolving automotive and energy sectors.

He described the centre as a strategic intervention designed to support the federal government’s industrialization agenda while preparing Zamfara for emerging opportunities in electric mobility and renewable energy technologies.

Governor Lawal also disclosed that the state government is currently procuring more than 200 electric vehicles to strengthen interstate transportation services, adding that the newly commissioned training centre would serve as a technical hub for the maintenance, diagnosis and servicing of the vehicles.

According to him, the initiative will not only improve transportation efficiency but also create employment opportunities and build local technical capacity in the automotive sector.

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to technical and vocational education, describing it as one of the most effective tools for addressing unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship and stimulating economic growth.