By Awyetu Asabe Hope
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated what the Federal Government described as West Africa’s largest lithium processing plant in Endo community, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu said the Diamond New Energy facility has a daily processing capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes and an annual capacity of three million metric tonnes. The company has also created over 1,000 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs.
He said the solid minerals sector remains central to Nigeria’s economic diversification, stressing that natural resources alone cannot guarantee prosperity without value addition, technology, strong institutions and industrialisation.
Tinubu said the plant reflects the administration’s commitment to moving Nigeria from exporting raw minerals to processing them locally, creating jobs, developing skills and strengthening local industries.
Describing lithium as a critical mineral for battery production, electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, he said the facility marks a major step in Nigeria’s drive to participate more competitively in the global energy transition.
The President also commended Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule for attracting investment into the mining sector and creating a conducive environment for industrial development.
Governor Sule thanked Diamond New Energy for investing in the state and urged other investors to take advantage of Nasarawa’s commercial deposits of lithium, lead, zinc, copper, gold, iron ore, marble and gemstones, as well as its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the project validates the Federal Government’s policy of local value addition, reiterating that Nigeria will no longer allow the export of raw minerals without domestic processing.
He said the policy is aimed at creating jobs, developing local expertise and positioning Nigeria to manufacture lithium-based products, including batteries, electric vehicles, phones and solar energy components.
Speaking on behalf of Diamond New Energy, Ambassador Yu Chongqiang said the company is investing in advanced processing technology, infrastructure, workforce development and environmental sustainability to build an integrated industrial platform that will strengthen Nigeria’s manufacturing base and support Africa’s clean energy transition.
