President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated Diamond New Energy, Nigeria’s largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, describing the solid minerals sector as a strategic pillar of his administration’s economic agenda.

President Tinubu, represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, said the facility marked Nigeria’s determination to move beyond exporting raw minerals to value addition that creates jobs, develops local skills and expands the country’s productive capacity.

He stressed that Nigeria must transform its abundant mineral resources into industrial growth, noting that the global transition to clean energy has made solid minerals critical to economic development.

He commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for positioning Nasarawa as a leading destination for mining investment and praised Diamond New Energy for its confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms.

The Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule described the inauguration of the lithium processing plant as a major milestone in the state’s industrialisation drive.

He thanked the investors for choosing Nasarawa and urged more local and foreign investors to explore the state’s vast solid mineral deposits and strategic location near the Federal Capital Territory.

The Governor said Nasarawa remains one of Nigeria’s most resource-rich states, with enormous potential to drive economic growth and employment through responsible mineral development.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said reforms introduced by the Federal Government have repositioned Nigeria as a preferred destination for mining investment.

He expressed confidence that the sector would soon become a major contributor to economic growth and poverty reduction.

The Senator representing Nasarawa West, Ahmed Wadada, urged the company to establish lithium battery manufacturing in Nigeria to deepen value addition and create more jobs, while the Chairman of Nasarawa Local Government, Mohammed Ahmed, said the project would boost employment, increase internally generated revenue and stimulate economic activities in the host community.

Ambassador of Jiuling and Canmax, Yu Chongqiang, said the companies chose Nasarawa because of its investor-friendly policies and disclosed plans to expand their operations in Nigeria to meet rising global demand for lithium products.

The Emir of Keffi, Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, congratulated the Federal and State Governments on attracting the landmark investment and assured the investors of the continued support and peaceful cooperation of the host communities.