President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated West Africa’s largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State.
Lithium is a critical mineral in modern technology with main uses in rechargeable batteries, health, industrial and manufacturing among others.
The mega facility, located in Endo community of Nasarawa Local Government Area (LGA) is to produce a daily processing capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes, translated into an annual capacity of 3 million tonnes.
President Tinubu represented by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, performed the inauguration on Thursday in Nasarawa LGA of the State.
Speaking at the event, the President emphasised that solid minerals serve as the fundamental backbone of any modern economy, explaining that technology cannot advance without them.
He appreciated the people of Endo, saying: “I am proud of you for your patience. We must have had our fights earlier, but all I was fighting for was to see today, and I am here today with you, and the biggest beneficiaries of this effort are you people.”
According to him, the vital role of mineral resources is why his administration treats the sector as a top priority.
He, however noted that raw wealth alone does not guarantee a nation’s success.
“Across the world, countries blessed with minerals, oil, gas, fertile lands, and strategic locations remain trapped in poverty because they fail to convert these resources into productive capacity, while nations with far fewer advantages have risen to global prominence through discipline, enterprise, technology, skills, and industrial organisation.
“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.
Tinubu further noted that while discussions around the nation’s rich underground resources such as gold, lithium, tin, and rare earth elements often bring a sense of national pride, actual industrialisation requires deliberate action.
“The commissioning of Diamond New Energy projects here in Nasarawa State represents confidence in Nigeria, in Nasarawa State, and in the revolutionary reforms set in place by the present administration. It represents confidence 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,” he said.
Highlighting lithium’s indispensable role in global battery technology, clean energy storage, and electric mobility, the President described the factory as the key of a broader national reawakening.
Tinubu, therefore, lauded the foresight of Governor Abdullahi Sule for transforming Nasarawa into a gold standard for extractive industry development.
“Instead of waiting for opportunities to announce themselves, Governor Abdullahi Sule pursued them. He has cultivated them.
He has built an environment in which investors can engage with confidence. Minerals may be deposited by nature, but investment is drawn by leadership, and he has shown that leadership in the past seven years of his stewardship in Nasarawa State.
” There can never be peace without development, and there can never be development without peace. Nasarawa State is a kaleidoscope of colours,” he said.
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to bringing the Endo community facility to life.
He equally thanked the corporate leadership of Diamond New Energy Company Limited.
“I also want to use the opportunity to thank the Chairman and CEO of this company for believing in us and coming to Nasarawa State and believing that Nasarawa State is the destination for investment,” he said.
Governor Sule leveraged on the platform to invite more mining sector actors to explore Nasarawa, pointing out its vast reserves of commercial-grade copper, zinc, lead, gemstones, gold.
Also speaking, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, characterised the plant’s opening as definitive proof that the current administration’s economic policies are working.
Alake reiterated the ministry’s protective stance on local processing, stating that exporting unprocessed raw materials is becoming a thing of the past. Under current frameworks, extraction must pair with domestic processing to catalyse job creation and technical training for Nigerian youths.
The Minister added that partnering with companies like Diamond Energy Group serves as a model for future collaborations, with the ultimate objective reaching far beyond processing raw ore.
“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 for its performance. We want to produce everything in Nigeria. Diamond Energy has started, Nasarawa State has started, Nigeria remains on the go,” he said.
On his part, Mr. Yu Chongqiang, Ambassador of JULING & CANMAX, who spoke on behalf of Diamond New Energy, affirmed that the enterprise plans to remain a cornerstone of Africa’s evolving clean energy manufacturing framework.
Chongqiang said the company is designed using modern processing technology. The facility represents a new generation of mineral beneficiation, capable of efficiently producing high-quality lithium concentrate while maximising resource recovery and operational efficiency.
He said the project is creating employment opportunities, supporting local businesses, strengthening logistics networks, and contributing to regional economic development.
“As we look ahead, our ambition remains clear. 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,” he said.
The Voice investigation reveals that since its operations in the area, the factory has already generated over 1,000 direct jobs and upwards of 2,000 indirect employment opportunities.
