The Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his bold reforms in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, particularly the transformative steps in lithium development.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, the group described the initiatives as a historic shift in Nigeria’s economic trajectory, designed to ensure that the country’s abundant natural resources are harnessed for the benefit of the people.

Yakubu highlighted the establishment of Nigeria’s first lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State and the spread of similar factories across the country as clear evidence of the administration’s commitment to value addition and local beneficiation. He further applauded the decision to ban the export of unprocessed lithium, stressing that the policy would end decades of economic dependency and resource exploitation.

The group also praised the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake, for his role in ensuring transparency, discipline, and investment drive in the sector. ATT urged stakeholders to support what it described as a visionary initiative that will secure a prosperous future for Nigeria through local resources, ingenuity, and resilience.