Ondo State has entered into a partnership with Nigerian company PyVee Limited to establish a $362 million titanium processing complex aimed at supplying industrial materials used in manufacturing, aviation and defence.
The proposed facility will be located in Ilaje Local Government Area, where the state government has allocated more than 100 hectares of land for the project in exchange for an ownership stake in the joint venture. The percentage of shares to be held by the state has not been disclosed.
The project will be developed in two phases, beginning with a $12 million commercial pilot plant. The initial facility is expected to commence operations approximately 21 months after the agreement, before construction proceeds towards a larger, fully integrated processing complex.
The plant is expected to process ilmenite, a mineral containing titanium, into titanium dioxide pigment and titanium sponge. These materials have applications across several industries, including paints, plastics, paper production, aircraft manufacturing, medical equipment and defence technology.
Titanium is particularly valuable in aerospace manufacturing because of its strength, relatively low weight and resistance to corrosion. The project is therefore expected to create opportunities for Nigeria to participate in international industrial supply chains rather than relying primarily on the export of raw minerals.
A United States-based technical partner is expected to manufacture modular processing equipment for installation at the Nigerian site. However, the identities of aircraft manufacturers or defence companies that might purchase the plant’s output have not been announced.
The Ondo State Government will support the project through land provision, regulatory approvals, infrastructure development and engagement with host communities. The site was selected partly because of its access to lagoon water, gas infrastructure and potential export routes linked to proposed port facilities and the Lagos–Calabar coastal corridor.
The estimated investment of $362 million covers both development phases, but details of the project’s complete financing arrangements and confirmed funding commitments have not been publicly disclosed.
If successfully implemented, the project could strengthen Nigeria’s mineral-processing industry, attract further industrial investment and create employment opportunities. Its long-term impact will depend on securing the necessary financing, completing construction and establishing reliable markets for its products.
