President commissions $200m facility in Nasarawa, marking new era for solid minerals development

 President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated West Africa's largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, a facility with a daily processing capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes and an annual capacity of 3 million tonnes.

The plant, operated by Diamond New Energy Company Limited, was commissioned Thursday in the Endo community of Nasarawa Local Government Area. Since beginning operations, it has generated over 1,000 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect employment opportunities in the region.

Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kassim Shettima, emphasized that solid minerals form the enduring backbone of every economy, stressing that "no technology rises without them." He noted that this explains the top priority his administration has given to the sector.

However, the president delivered a stark warning about the dangers of resource complacency.

"Nations do not become great because nature has been generous to them. Nations rise to global prominence through discipline, enterprise, technology, skills, and industrial organization."

Shettima elaborated on this point, observing that countries blessed with minerals, oil, gas, and fertile lands remain trapped in poverty when they fail to convert these resources into productive capacity, while nations with far fewer advantages have ascended through strategic development.

"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 vice president noted that national conversations have been dominated by what lies beneath Nigeria's soil gold, lithium, tin, iron ore, bitumen, coal, and rare earth elements often with justifiable pride.

"But pride does not build factories. Statistics does not create jobs, and mineral maps do not transform the lives of young Nigerians," he cautioned. "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."

The commissioning of the Diamond New Energy project represents a significant vote of confidence in Nigeria's revolutionary reforms, he added, demonstrating the country's readiness to participate in the global minerals economy on terms that create jobs, build skills, strengthen local enterprises, and expand the productive base.

Highlighting the global significance of lithium, Shettima noted it has become one of the defining minerals of the energy transition, central to battery technology, electric mobility, and renewable energy storage.

"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 said. "Every factory that opens on Nigerian soil is an act of faith in our people, our institutions, and the possibilities of this Republic."

The president praised Governor Abdullahi Sule's resolve and vision in transforming Nasarawa into a template 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," Shettima said. "Minerals may be deposited by nature, but investment is drawn by leadership."

Governor Sule expressed gratitude to all those who worked tirelessly to realize the project, particularly thanking the company's leadership for choosing Nasarawa as their investment destination.

He extended an open invitation to other mining investors, assuring them of a safe business environment and highlighting the state's abundant natural resources including lead, zinc, lithium, copper, gemstones, gold, marble, and iron ore found in commercial quantities.

"I want to appreciate the people of Endo for your patience," Sule said, acknowledging past tensions. "All I was fighting for was to see today, and the biggest beneficiaries of this effort are you people."

Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals, described the inauguration as testament to the efficacy of President Tinubu's policies.

"Local value addition became a pillar of our policies," Alake said. "I'm happy that operators in the sector have accepted this policy, imbibed it, and implemented it—just like the Diamond Energy Group has done."

He announced that exportation of raw materials will no longer be permitted, with extraction and processing now required to happen within the country to create jobs and train youths.

"This policy has been so effective that other African countries have latched onto it. Virtually every other African country where mining is taking place is now issuing directives against the exportation of raw minerals," Alake added.

The minister expressed confidence in the partnership with Diamond Energy Group while urging other potential partners to follow their example with concrete local processing plans.

"Our goal is to begin to produce lithium batteries, the vehicles, the phones, the solar panels, the solar-powered turbines, and every gadget that uses lithium as a base requirement," Alake declared. "We want to produce everything in Nigeria. Diamond Energy has started, Nasarawa State has started, Nigeria remains on the go."

Mr. Yu Chongqiang, Chairman of Diamond New Energy Company Limited, explained that the company was founded on the belief that Nigeria should not merely participate in the global minerals market but lead it through responsible development, value addition, and industrial innovation.

Since commencing operations, the company has invested in advanced processing technologies, modern infrastructure, workforce development, environmental stewardship, and partnerships with governments and host communities.

The completion of processing facilities in Ogun State and the continued expansion of the flagship lithium processing base in Nasarawa represent important milestones in a much larger vision.

"We are building an integrated industrial platform capable of supporting local manufacturing, strengthening supply chains, and contributing to Africa's clean energy future," Chongqiang said.

"We will continue to expand responsibly, embrace innovation, invest in people, and support Nigeria's journey toward becoming a globally competitive hub for critical minerals and advanced industrial development." (NAN)