The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Richard Montgomery, has said a British battery recycling company is to be set up in Ogun State, an official disclosed on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, in Abeokuta.
Mr Lekan Adeniran, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, said in a statement that Montgomery disclosed this when he visited Gov. Abiodun in his office.
He said Montgomery, who led some officials of the British High Commission on the courtesy call on Gov. Abiodun, stated that when operational the company would be the best in Africa.
“The British High Commissioner added that his brief visit to the state was about the deal, put together for recycling, which was moving out of Lagos State and establishing a new plant in Ogun for recycling e-waste.
“He (Montgomery) said further that Ogun Invest and the Director General of Lands were working to ensure the deal comes off the line, and he was glad to join in the final conversation,” Adeniran said.
He went on to report him (Montgomery) as expressing that the company would hopefully bring new technology and new jobs to the state.
“The battery we will be manufacturing in Ogun will be the first of its kind in Africa, and we will make the state the leader in battery recycling in Africa.
“For the first time, it is now possible to recycle the cell back into chemical form in Africa and export the black mass, which contains the minerals inside the battery, to make new batteries.
“It is really exciting that we received support from Ogun Invest, and officials from the Bureau of Lands confirmed the Certificate of Occupation.
“We can say that the investment will be about five million dollars, and we want Ogun to be the place where this industry can grow,” the High Commissioner was reported as saying.
“Montgomery also added that the UK would like to participate in energy, technology, tertiary education, agricultural processing, and also explore how to find more UK-linked companies to invest in the state.”
Adeniran quoted Gov. Abiodun as saying Ogun had a large expanse of land suitable for cultivating food and cash crops, just as large deposits of limestone and other minerals were available.
“He (Abiodun) said the state remains home to numerous manufacturing companies and had the biggest industrial park as a result of the gas pipelines from the Niger Delta which crisscross the length and breadth of the state.
“Abiodun noted that the deliberate provision of road infrastructure and other amenities was to attract more investments to meaningfully impact the lives of the people.
“The governor, who acknowledged the relationship between Nigeria and the UK, said the state had benefited from the training of its staff, especially those managing the state transport system.”
“We are open for business. Our administration has made the environment attractive. We have reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks to the barest minimum.
“Also, we have made land acquisition seamless for investors,” the governor was quoted as saying.
By Abiodun Lawal
