Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Chairman of Nigeria’s Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, has revealed that the committee held a pivotal meeting with CATL, a leading electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, in Ningde, China.
The discussion formed part of a working visit by the committee to advance plans for Nigeria’s renewable energy technology hub, Evergreen City. Key members of the delegation included Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, and Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, Managing Director/CEO of Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp).
In a statement issued in Abuja, Ngelale explained that the visit began with a tour of CATL’s facilities. “We were given an exclusive insight into the company’s history, current operations, and future ambitions. The automated production lines were particularly impressive, though no photographs were allowed during the tour,” he said.
Following the tour, the delegation engaged with CATL’s executive team, discussing the progress of Evergreen City and potential areas of collaboration. CATL presented tailored solutions involving their cutting-edge technologies and financing models to meet the specific needs of the project.
Governor Sule highlighted state-level policies designed to facilitate the partnership, while Ngelale elaborated on how CATL’s technologies aligned with the broader vision for Evergreen City. Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, representing InfraCorp, asked critical questions about the proposed collaboration framework, ensuring clarity on next steps.
Expressing optimism about the initiative, Ngelale remarked, “We are excited about the possibility of hosting CATL, a supplier to global brands like Tesla and BMW, within our lithium-rich region. However, there is still substantial work ahead before we can celebrate this milestone.”
