Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday commissioned Nigeria’s largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, describing the facility as a major step towards positioning Nigeria as a leading hub for value-added mineral processing, industrialisation and clean energy manufacturing.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of the Diamond New Energy Projects facility, Shettima said the project reflects growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy and the reforms introduced by the Federal Government to attract capital into the solid minerals sector.
He said Nigeria must move beyond exporting raw minerals and instead focus on local processing and manufacturing to create jobs, develop technical skills, strengthen local industries and expand the country’s productive capacity.
“The commissioning of Diamond New Energy Projects represents confidence in Nigeria, in Nasarawa State and in the reforms of this administration. It shows that Nigeria is ready to participate in the global minerals economy on terms that create jobs, build skills, strengthen local enterprises and expand our productive base,” the Vice President said.
Lithium is a critical mineral used in electric vehicle batteries, energy storage systems and other clean energy technologies, making it one of the fastest-growing segments of the global mining industry.
Shettima said Nigeria’s vast deposits of lithium, gold, tin, iron ore, coal and other strategic minerals would only deliver lasting economic benefits if they are processed locally into higher-value products rather than exported in their raw form.
He said the Tinubu administration considers the solid minerals sector a strategic component of its economic agenda, noting that expanding value addition would support industrial growth, attract investment and create sustainable employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The Vice President also commended Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule for positioning the state as a preferred destination for mining and mineral processing investments.
Governor Abdullahi Sule described the facility as one of Africa’s largest lithium processing plants and urged more domestic and foreign investors to leverage Nasarawa’s abundant mineral resources and investment-friendly environment.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake said reforms introduced by the Federal Government have helped redirect global investment towards Nigeria’s mining sector, adding that the establishment of the processing plant demonstrates the success of the administration’s policy of promoting value addition over the export of raw minerals.
He expressed confidence that the sector would emerge as one of the country’s major drivers of economic growth, industrialisation and poverty reduction.
Other stakeholders welcomed the investment, with Senator Ahmed Wadada urging the company to move beyond lithium processing into battery manufacturing to maximise local value addition and employment, while community leaders said the project would stimulate economic activities, increase internally generated revenue and create jobs for residents.
Speaking on behalf of the investors, Jiuling and Canmax Ambassador Yu Chongqiang said the companies chose Nasarawa because of its investment-friendly policies and disclosed plans to expand their Nigerian operations as global demand for lithium products continues to rise.
