Tinubu Commissions West Africa Largest Lithium Plant in Major Mining Breakthrough

(VP Shettima leads ribbon-cutting at the commissioning of Nigeria's largest lithium processing plant. Photo by Nigeria News room)

President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated what is being described as West Africa's largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, a project the Federal Government is presenting as a decisive shift from raw mineral exports toward a robust, value-added mining industry.

The facility, located in the Endo community within Nasarawa Local Government Area, has a daily processing capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes, translating to an estimated annual throughput of around three million metric tonnes.

Represented at the commissioning ceremony by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu emphasised that the project aligns with his administration's central goal of transforming Nigeria's solid minerals sector into a driving force for industrialisation, job creation and sustained economic growth.

He stressed that national prosperity depends not simply on the abundance of natural resources, but on the ability to process those resources into finished goods that generate real value for citizens.

According to the President, the plant represents far more than a mining investment, serving instead as a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria's economy and the effectiveness of its ongoing reform agenda.

He described lithium as one of the defining minerals of the global energy transition, noting that the facility reflects Nigeria's commitment to moving beyond raw extraction toward value addition, job creation, skills development and expanded productive capacity, positioning the initiative as part of a broader industrial strategy to establish Nigeria as a key player in the global minerals value chain.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said the investment has already created more than 1,000 direct jobs and over 2,000 indirect employment opportunities.

He invited further investment into the state, pointing to its rich deposits of lithium, gold, zinc, copper, iron ore and other valuable solid minerals, and assured prospective investors of a favourable business environment, highlighting the state's strategic advantage as a result of its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake said the commissioning of the plant validates the Federal Government's policy of promoting local mineral processing over the export of unprocessed raw materials, reiterating that Nigeria will no longer support the export of unprocessed minerals, a policy he said is intended to drive job creation, build local expertise and strengthen domestic manufacturing.

He added that the long-term vision includes developing industries capable of producing lithium batteries, electric vehicles, solar panels and other lithium-dependent products.

Speaking on behalf of Diamond New Energy, the company behind the project, Ambassador Yu Chongqiang expressed confidence in Nigeria's mining sector and its potential to become a leader in mineral processing and clean energy development.

He outlined the company's investment in processing technology, infrastructure, workforce development and environmental sustainability, describing the Nasarawa facility as a cornerstone of a broader strategy to support local manufacturing and strengthen Africa's clean energy supply chain, a development he said carries significant implications for legal practitioners, compliance officers and corporate strategists navigating Nigeria's evolving resource governance and industrial policy landscape.