Shettima Inaugurates Nigeria’s Biggest Lithium Processing Plant, Says Value Addition Key to Economic Transformation

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday commissioned Nigeria’s largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, declaring that the Federal Government is determined to transform the country’s vast mineral wealth into jobs, industrial growth and sustainable economic prosperity.

Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of the Diamond New Energy Projects lithium processing facility, Shettima said the project marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest to become a major player in the global critical minerals value chain.

He said the Tinubu administration is committed to ensuring that the country’s abundant mineral resources are processed locally to create value, rather than being exported in their raw form.

“The commissioning of Diamond New Energy Projects represents confidence in Nigeria, confidence in Nasarawa State and confidence in the bold economic reforms of this administration. It shows that Nigeria is ready to participate in the global minerals economy in a way that creates jobs, builds skills, strengthens local businesses and expands our productive base,” he said.

The Vice President noted that although Nigeria is richly endowed with lithium, gold, tin, iron ore, coal, bitumen and other strategic minerals, real economic progress will only come through value addition and industrialisation.

He stressed that moving from mineral extraction to processing and manufacturing is critical to repositioning the country’s economy and reducing dependence on raw commodity exports.

According to Shettima, the solid minerals sector occupies a strategic position in the Federal Government’s economic agenda because of the growing global demand for critical minerals used in modern technologies.

He also commended Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule for creating an enabling environment that attracted the investment, describing the state as a leading destination for mining and industrial development.

Governor Sule said the project demonstrates investors’ confidence in Nasarawa’s economic potential and called on more domestic and international investors to take advantage of the state’s vast mineral deposits and proximity to the Federal Capital Territory.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said ongoing reforms in the mining sector have repositioned Nigeria as an attractive destination for global investment.

He described the lithium processing plant as a clear example of the Federal Government’s policy of encouraging local processing and value addition to boost economic growth and reduce poverty.

Senator representing Nasarawa West, Ahmed Wadada, urged the company to move beyond processing lithium ore by establishing battery manufacturing plants in Nigeria, saying such expansion would create more jobs, deepen technology transfer and maximise the country’s economic benefits.

Chairman of Nasarawa Local Government Area, Mohammed Ahmed, welcomed the investment, saying it would stimulate economic activities, create employment opportunities and increase revenue for the host community.

Also speaking, Ambassador of Jiuling and Canmax, Yu Chongqiang, said the companies selected Nasarawa because of its stable investment climate and supportive government policies, adding that they plan to expand their operations in Nigeria to meet rising global demand for lithium products.

On behalf of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, the Emir of Keffi, Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, congratulated the Federal Government and the state government for attracting the landmark investment, expressing confidence that the project would strengthen Nigeria’s position in mineral processing and drive industrial development.