The Minister of Steel Development, Mr. Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to delivering a robust steel sector capable of driving Nigeria’s industrial growth and enhancing global competitiveness.
Speaking during a high-level strategic meeting with executives of Sino Steel—one of China’s largest steel conglomerates—Audu emphasized that the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company remains a top priority in the government’s economic agenda.
The meeting, which also included the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, focused on:
- Technical evaluations of the steel plant
- Development of a sustainable operational model
- Financing frameworks for full-scale revival
“With international partners like Sino Steel, we are on course to restore Ajaokuta to full productivity and position Nigeria as a manufacturing powerhouse,” the minister stated.
The Ajaokuta Steel Company, with an installed capacity of 1.9 million tonnes and scalable potential to 5 million tonnes annually, is central to Nigeria’s plans for job creation and sectoral development in automotive, construction, and heavy machinery manufacturing.
The renewed partnership signals a fresh push by the federal government to unlock the steel sector’s potential through foreign direct investment, technology transfer, and public-private collaboration.
