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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigeria must move beyond exporting raw minerals to building a globally competitive value-added mining industry.
He stated this while commissioning the Diamond New Energy lithium processing project in Nasarawa State.
The president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the project reflects growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy and the ongoing reforms of the Tinubu administration.
He described it as a major milestone in the country’s drive for economic diversification.
President Tinubu said Nigeria must move beyond exporting raw mineral resources and focus on processing, manufacturing and value addition to create jobs, strengthen industries and increase national prosperity.
According to the president, minerals alone cannot transform a nation unless they are backed by sound policies, strong institutions, technology and productive investments.
“Nigeria must not be content with being a warehouse of unprocessed minerals. We must become a workshop of value, a hub of industrial activity where our mineral wealth creates jobs, skills and prosperity,” he said.
The President said the solid minerals sector occupies a strategic position in the Federal Government’s economic agenda, especially as lithium has become a critical mineral for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage and the global energy transition.
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He commended the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, for implementing reforms that have improved investor confidence and repositioned the sector for sustainable growth.
The president also praised Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule for creating a conducive environment that continues to attract major mining investments into the state.
Earlier, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, said the Federal Government had deliberately shifted its focus from encouraging mineral extraction to attracting investments in mineral processing and value addition to maximise the country’s mineral wealth.
The minister said reforms introduced by the ministry, including the deployment of Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining, improved geological data, transparent licensing and stronger regulatory oversight, have significantly boosted investor confidence.
According to him, the Diamond New Energy project demonstrates that the government’s reforms are yielding results by attracting industries that process minerals locally, create skilled jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base.
Alake urged investors to deepen technology transfer, local procurement and skills development while calling on host communities to continue supporting responsible mining activities that promote sustainable development.
He expressed confidence that the Diamond New Energy project would boost employment, expand industrial capacity and further establish Nigeria as one of Africa’s leading destinations for responsible mining and value-added mineral investments.
