The Federal Government has taken a significant step toward reviving the dormant Ajaokuta Steel Company, a strategic industrial asset central to Nigeria’s industrialization and job creation efforts.
In a renewed push to restore the facility to full capacity, the government has begun high-level engagements with major Chinese steel conglomerates.
These talks aim to secure technical expertise, financial support, and strategic partnerships to bring the long-abandoned plant back to life.
Leading the initiative is the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, who is currently heading a federal delegation on an investment mission to China.
The delegation includes the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe, and senior officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing.
So far, the team has held meetings with executives from prominent Chinese firms such as Sino Steel (a subsidiary of the Baowu Group), Fangda Steel Group, and Jingye Steel Group.
According to a statement from the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, the discussions have focused on technical assessments, the design of operational frameworks, and the development of financing models necessary to restore Ajaokuta Steel’s productivity.
Minister Audu emphasized that reviving Ajaokuta Steel remains a top priority under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration and is expected to be achieved within the current government’s tenure.
“Our mission is clear: to establish robust technical and financial collaborations that will enable the full revival of Ajaokuta Steel. This facility holds tremendous potential to drive industrial development, support local manufacturing, and create thousands of jobs across the country,” he said.
Tegbe echoed these views, describing the mission as a “strategic alignment of China’s industrial strength with Nigeria’s economic aspirations.”
“This engagement demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to building impactful partnerships that will unlock long-term value in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors,” Tegbe stated.
The renewed efforts come amid increasing demands for Nigeria to reduce reliance on steel imports and boost domestic production capacity to meet the needs of critical sectors such as infrastructure, construction, and automobile manufacturing.
Originally conceived in the late 1970s, Ajaokuta Steel has faced decades of setbacks due to policy inconsistencies, failed management agreements, and chronic underinvestment.
However, the Tinubu administration has vowed to complete its rehabilitation and transform it into a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial revival.
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The facility has an installed production capacity of 1.9 million tonnes, with the potential to scale up to 5 million tonnes annually—positioning it to play a crucial role in Nigeria’s economic transformation.
