Tinubu unveils mega lithium processing plant in Nasarawa

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday commissioned what the Federal Government described as West Africa’s largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, saying the project marks another step in Nigeria’s drive to create jobs and end the export of raw minerals.

The facility, located in Endo community, Nasarawa Local Government Area, has a daily processing capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes and an annual capacity of three million metric tonnes. It has already generated more than 1,000 direct jobs and over 2,000 indirect jobs, according to the Nasarawa State Government.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the inauguration, Tinubu said the country’s solid minerals sector must move beyond extraction to value addition, insisting that processing minerals locally would create employment, develop technical skills and expand Nigeria’s industrial base.

He said the lithium plant demonstrates growing investor confidence in Nigeria and aligns with the Federal Government’s reforms aimed at positioning the country as a major player in the global clean energy supply chain.

“Lithium has become one of the defining minerals of the global energy transition. What changes a nation is moving from extraction to production, from raw materials to value-added goods, and from isolated investments to integrated industrial ecosystems,” he said.

Tinubu noted that natural resources alone do not guarantee economic prosperity, stressing that sustainable growth depends on industrialisation, innovation and strong institutions.

Governor Abdullahi Sule described the project as a major milestone for Nasarawa State, saying it would stimulate economic activities and create opportunities for host communities.

He urged more investors to take advantage of the state’s vast deposits of lithium, gold, zinc, copper, iron ore and other solid minerals, assuring them of a favourable investment climate.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the project reflects the success of the Federal Government’s policy of promoting local processing of mineral resources.

According to him, Nigeria will continue to discourage the export of unprocessed minerals in favour of domestic processing that creates jobs and supports industrial development.

Alake said the government’s long-term vision is to build industries capable of producing lithium batteries, electric vehicles, solar panels and other products that rely on the mineral.

Speaking on behalf of Diamond New Energy, the company behind the project, Ambassador Yu Chongqiang said the investment goes beyond mining, with significant commitments to processing technology, infrastructure, workforce development and environmental sustainability.

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.