Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated what the Federal Government described as West Africa's largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, declaring that Nigeria must move decisively from exporting raw minerals to processing them locally to create jobs, drive industrial growth, and position the country as a major player in the global clean energy value chain.
The Diamond New Energy lithium processing plant, located in the Endo community of Nasarawa Local Government Area, has a daily processing capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes and an annual capacity of three million metric tonnes. The facility, built by a Chinese firm at a cost of $250 million in partnership with the Nasarawa State Government, has already generated more than 1,000 direct jobs and over 2,000 indirect jobs since operations began.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the inauguration on Thursday, July 2, 2026, Tinubu said the plant reflects the government's commitment to developing the solid minerals sector through local value addition. According to him, countries do not become prosperous simply because they possess abundant natural resources, but because they transform those resources into economic opportunities. "Natural resources may be a blessing, but only vision can turn them into wealth. Only institutions can protect that wealth. Only industry can multiply it, and only people can give it meaning," he said.
The President stressed that Nigeria must move deliberately from extracting raw minerals to processing them locally and producing finished goods. "What changes a nation is a deliberate movement from extraction to processing, from potential to production, from raw materials to value-added goods, and from isolated investments to integrated industrial ecosystems," he added. He described lithium as one of the world's most strategic minerals because of its growing importance in battery production, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. "A factory is never just a building; it is where policy becomes employment, where investment becomes production, and where hope begins to acquire structure," Tinubu said.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, described the inauguration as an eloquent testimony to the government's policy on local value addition. He reiterated that Nigeria would no longer encourage the export of raw minerals without local processing. "Local value addition became a pillar of our policies in the Ministry of Solid Minerals," Alake noted, adding that several African countries have begun adopting similar policies to encourage domestic mineral processing.
The Minister also disclosed that the Federal Government has apprehended over 300 illegal miners and secured convictions against more than 20 collaborators, as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the mining sector and ensure that mineral resources are exploited legally and sustainably.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who has been instrumental in attracting the investment, commended President Tinubu for implementing economic reforms aimed at strengthening the nation's economy. He described the commissioning as the fulfilment of his administration's industrialisation agenda and reaffirmed his commitment to making Nasarawa State a major hub for mining and industrial development. "I also want to use the opportunity to thank the Chairman and, indeed, the CEO of this company," Sule said, urging more investors to take advantage of the state's vast deposits of lithium, gold, zinc, copper, iron ore and other solid minerals.
Speaking on behalf of Diamond New Energy, Ambassador Yu Chongqiang said the investment goes beyond mining, with significant commitments to processing technology, infrastructure, workforce development and environmental sustainability. "Since commencing operations, our focus has extended well beyond mining; we have invested in advance processing technologies, modern infrastructure, workforce development, environmental stewardship and meaningful partnership with government and host communities," he said. The company aims to help position Nigeria as a regional hub for mineral processing and clean energy manufacturing through an integrated industrial platform.
The inauguration comes days after the Minister of Solid Minerals Development announced the discovery of what the government described as a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State containing deposits of platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements. Alake said the discovery, verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, ranks among the most significant developments in Nigeria's mining sector in recent years and further strengthens the country's critical minerals potential.
Tinubu praised Governor Sule for positioning Nasarawa as a model for extractive industry development. "Instead of waiting for opportunities to announce themselves, he has pursued them, he has cultivated them, he has built an environment in which investors can engage with confidence. Minerals may be deposited by nature, but investment is drawn by leadership, and he has shown that leadership in the past seven years of his stewardship in Nasarawa State," the President said.
With the commissioning of the Diamond New Energy plant, Nigeria has taken a significant step towards reducing its dependence on oil and gas by leveraging its vast solid mineral deposits to drive industrialisation, create jobs and position itself as a competitive player in the global critical minerals market.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments