President Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated a lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State with a daily processing capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes and an annual capacity of three million metric tonnes, describing the project as a major boost to Nigeria’s industrialisation drive.

The facility, owned by Diamond New Energy Company Ltd. and located in Endo Community, Nasarawa Local Government Area, has created more than 1,000 direct jobs and over 2,000 indirect jobs since commencing operations.

Represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu said the solid minerals sector remains the enduring backbone of every economy, noting that modern technologies depend heavily on mineral resources.

He explained that while the Federal Government has prioritised the sector because of its strategic role in economic diversification, Nigeria’s natural resource wealth alone cannot guarantee prosperity.

“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,” the president said.

Tinubu noted that despite Nigeria’s abundant deposits of lithium, gold, tin, iron ore, bitumen, coal and rare earth elements, sustainable development would only be achieved through local processing and value addition rather than the export of raw minerals.

“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.

“That is why this occasion matters. The commissioning of Diamond New Energy projects here in Nasarawa State represents confidence in Nigeria, in Nasarawa State and in the reforms introduced by this administration,” he said.

Describing lithium as a critical mineral powering the global energy transition through battery technology, electric mobility and renewable energy storage, Tinubu said the new facility represents more than an industrial investment.

“A factory is never just a building; it is where policy becomes employment, where investment becomes production and where hope begins to acquire structure,” he added.

The president also commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for positioning Nasarawa State as a model for sustainable mining development through policies that have attracted investment.

In his remarks, Governor Sule thanked stakeholders for supporting the successful establishment of the plant and praised Diamond New Energy Company Ltd. for investing in the state.

He urged more investors to take advantage of Nasarawa’s favourable business environment and its vast deposits of lithium, lead, zinc, copper, gemstones, gold, marble and iron ore.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the inauguration reflects the success of the Federal Government’s mining reforms, particularly its policy of ending the export of raw minerals in favour of local processing and value addition.

According to him, the policy is designed to create jobs, attract investment and develop skilled manpower.

“Local value addition became a pillar of our policies in the Ministry of Solid Minerals, and I am pleased that operators in the sector have embraced and implemented it, just as Diamond New Energy Company has done.

“Today, other African countries are adopting similar policies by restricting the export of raw minerals and encouraging domestic processing,” Alake said.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria would eventually manufacture lithium batteries, electric vehicles, mobile phones, solar panels and other lithium-dependent products.

Earlier, the Chairman of Diamond New Energy Company Ltd., Yu Chongqiang, said the company is committed to positioning Nigeria as a global leader in responsible mineral development, value addition and industrial innovation.

He noted that the company has invested heavily in advanced processing technology, infrastructure, workforce development, environmental sustainability and partnerships with government and host communities.

According to Yu, the completion of the company’s processing facilities in Ogun State, alongside the continued expansion of its flagship lithium processing plant in Nasarawa, marks a significant milestone in achieving that vision.