— Says bank ready to finance battery production, faults foreign rating agencies, hails Dangote Refinery

Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

The President and Chairman of the Board of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Dr. George Elombi, has urged African countries to stop exporting raw lithium and instead develop a thriving electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing industry on the continent.

Speaking at the bank’s Mid-Year Media Roundtable in Abuja, Elombi said Africa must leverage its vast mineral resources to drive industrialisation and economic development rather than exporting raw materials.

He said Afreximbank was ready to finance the establishment of EV battery manufacturing plants across the continent.