The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Richard Montgomery has announced plans to invest in a new five million dollar British battery recycling company to be situated in Ogun State.
Montgomery pointed out that the company when established, there will be the only one in Africa, which Ogun will be the leader in battery recycling in Africa. He made this statement during a courtesy call to Governor Dapo Abiodun in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, accompanied by some officials of the commission.
Montgomery said: “My brief visit to this state is about the deal put together for recycling, which is moving out of Lagos State and establishing a new plant here for recycling e-waste. The Ogun Invest and the Director General, Lands, are working to ensure the deal comes off the line, and I am glad to be here to join the final conversation. I think that will bring new technology and new jobs to the state.
“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 State to be the place where this industry can grow.”
He emphasized that his country is eager to engage in energy, technology, higher education, and agricultural processing. Additionally, he expressed interest in identifying more companies linked to the United Kingdom for potential investment in the region.
Montgomery highlighted that British International Investment has made a significant investment in one of the leading cashew processing and export companies. He also mentioned that his country is prepared to provide technical support for the state’s mass transit system, which is currently undergoing testing.
In response, Governor Abiodun emphasized that enhancing road infrastructure and other essential services is aimed at attracting more investments that will positively affect the community. He noted that the formation of the Ministry of Transportation, the creation of a Transportation Master Plan, and the development of a cargo airport were key insights he gained from attending a summit in the UK in 2020.
Montgomery added, “We are open for business. Our administration has made the environment attractive. We have reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks to the barest minimum. We have made land acquisition seamless for investors. We have grown our economy. Ogun State is effective and forward-thinking. I want to thank the High Commissioner for the support we have enjoyed from the British Foreign Office.”