MINISTER OF STEEL DEVELOPMENT, PRINCE SHUAIBU ABUBAKAR AUDU, COMMISSIONS GALVANISING STEEL PLANT IN LAGOS …Hails African Industries Group for commitment to investing in the Nigerian steel sector. The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, commissioned the Orbit Galvanising Steel Industries Limited and Orbit Fabrication Works Limited located in Lagos State, a milestone project under the African Industries Group (AIG), describing the project as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s galvanising and steel fabrication sub-sector. The commissioning of the galvanised steel plant forms part of the Honourable Minister’s working visit to Lagos, where he is engaging with key private sector players in the steel industry, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to foster private sector participation in driving economic growth. Prince Audu commended the African Industries Group for its commitment to investing in the Nigerian steel sector to advance local manufacturing, create jobs, and economic sustainability which aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, noting that Orbit fabrication has the capacity to produce up to 50,000 metric tons of fabricated towers annually which brings the combined annual production capacity of all tower fabrication companies in nigeria to around 200,000 metric tons per annum. The Minister highlighted the administration’s proactive policies on local content, industrial expansion, and import substitution as key enablers to the success of the project, reiterating the commitment of the Federal Government to reviving the steel sector of the country before the end of the current administration. “This plant which is a pioneer achievement of the African Industries Group in the galvanising sub-sector, has further reinforced the group’s commitment to investing in the Nigerian steel sector with a focus on local manufacturing of different steel products through backward integration for the overall economic development of the country. “In recognition of the importance of galvanized steel products to multiple projects across different industries and the overall economic development of Nigeria, the Federal Government graciously granted concessionary import duties to importance of Galvenised steel products prior to the establishment of this plant. “One of the principal tasks before my ministry under the administration of his Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is to create an enabling environment for local investments and ensure that there is a level playing field. “The commissioning of this project today is a testament to the efforts of the current administration to rejuvinate the steel sector of the Nigerian economy and i enjoin other prospective investors to emulate African Industries Group,” Prince Audu stated. Mr. Rajah Gupta, one of the Directors of AIG, speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Company, reaffirmed AIG’s long-standing commitment to Nigeria. He emphasized that AIG, which has operated in Nigeria for over 54 years, remains dedicated to positioning the country among the elite group of nations that produce and export crude steel. “We have made the largest non-oil foreign direct investment in Nigeria, specifically in the steel and mining sectors. To date, the Group has invested over $600 million in an iron-Ore mine for steel production in Gujeni, Kaduna State and is currently producing iron and steel from locally sourced iron ore. Very soon, we will begin exporting locally manufactured BRI (Basic Raw Iron) to other countries,” Mr. Gupta stated. He further explained that the company’s manufacturing strategy is driven by the goal of import substitution—transforming local raw materials into finished goods, thereby conserving foreign exchange for the nation. As part of his official engagements, the Honourable Minister paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Government, where he was warmly received by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat. During the visit, Prince Audu informed the Deputy Governor of his intention to tour steel facilities in the state to better understand the challenges faced by private sector players and explore ways the government can support them. “We are here to seek continued collaboration and support from the Lagos State Government. “This partnership is crucial, and I commend both you and the Executive Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for your dedication to implementing the Lagos State Development Plan. Lagos is not only a mega city, it is one of Africa’s top 5 economies and plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s overall economic growth. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has laid a clear development blueprint for Lagos, and your administration has carried that vision forward with excellence,” Prince Audu said. In response, the Deputy Governor thanked the Minister for his visit and expressed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to collaborating with the Federal Ministry, particularly in addressing the concerns of steel companies operating within the state.
…Says President Tinubu committed to reviving Steel Sector before end of his Administration
More importantly, we aim to work harmoniously with the state, considering that over 60% of private steel investors are based in the Lagos and Ogun axis.
Vision
“To have a virile sustainable and inclusive steel industry that can compete globally and be driving for industrial and economic growth of our country while maintaining internationally acceptable standard”
Mission
“To ensure industry and Government strengthen the capability and competitiveness of Nigeria steel industry to achieve self sufficiency in steel production by providing policy support and guardian and to help mitigate potential challenges and barriers that are preventing the growth of Nigeria steel industry”
MINING WEEK “Policy for Accelerating Nigeria’s Iron and Steel Industry Development”
Representative of the Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, on the panel discussing the topic, “Policy for Accelerating Nigeria’s Iron and Steel Industry Development” on Wednesday 20th November 2024 at the Nigeria Mining Week.
The Permanent Secretary stated that the Policy thrust of the Federal Government is geared towards ensuring it provides an enabling environment; revamping the moribund Steel Companies in the country; collaborate with the private sector for the development of the Steel Sector, among others.
BI-LATERAL RELATION: INDIAN BUSINESS INVESTORS VISIT MINISTRY ON STEEL SECTOR DEPARTMENT
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, noting the huge potentials in the Steel Sector, disclosed that the country is happy to explore various aspects of investment and is keen to work with the Indian community, this happened when the Indian Business Investors paid a visit to the Ministry’s Headquarters on Monday 18th November 2024 to find ways to deepen bi-lateral relations with the country on the development of the steel sector.
On her part, Rekha Sharma, leader of the delegation proposed setting up working groups to look into areas of investments as well as organizing a Nigerian-Indian Road Show in India to showcase the vast opportunities in the Nigerian Steel Sector to India investors.
GOODWILL ADDRESS BY HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STEEL DEVELOPMENT, PRINCE SHUAIBU ABUBAKAR AUDU, AT THE 9TH EDITION OF THE NIGERIA MINING WEEK (NMW) HOLDING AT THE ABUJA CONTINENTAL HOTEL, ABUJA.
Protocols
The Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, My brother and Host of the 2024 Nigeria Mining Week Your Excellencies, the State Governors here present Other Ministers of the Federal Republic here present;
The Chairmen and Members of the National Assembly Committees on Solid Minerals and Steel here present;
The National President, Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Ayanleke and the entire leadership of the Association for Organizing the 2024 Nigeria Mining Week;
The Event Director – Mining, Vuka Group, Mr. Samukelo Madlabane and the entire Team of the Vuka Group, Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Members of the Advisory Board of the 2024 Nigeria Mining Week
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe;
The Heads of Government Parastatals and Agencies here present;
Stakeholders here present from Africa and beyond;
Gentlemen and Ladies of the Press;
Ladies and Gentlemen!
PREAMBLE
I am highly honoured to make this ministerial address at the 9th Annual Nigeria Mining Week 2024 with the theme ‘Building the Mining Sector to be the Cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy. The annual mining week event has evolved over time to be a major platform where different stakeholders in the minerals sector are assembled for robust engagements on the best strategies to advance the course of harnessing our natural resources endowments for economic development. I must not fail to appreciate my big brother and colleague, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake for the collaborative partnership between us because of the obvious nexus between the Solid Minerals and the Iron and Steel sectors.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is important to highlight that the focus of the 2024 Annual Mining Week equally resonates with the priorities of our visionary leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR especially as he targets;
Reforming the economy to deliver sustained inclusive growth Unlocking Energy and Natural resources for sustainable development and Accelerate diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation. I have carefully perused the thematic topics that will be deliberated on at this event and the presenters that will lead the discussions especially as it relates to the “Policy Choices for Accelerating Nigeria’s Iron and Steel Industry Development”. I am confident that the Presenters/Discussants will do justice to the topics and deliver very constructive conversations and shared-insights that will elicit progressive engagements aligning with the ideals of the 8-Point Agenda of President Tinubu’s Administration which targets reinvigoration of the steel industry to serve as a catalyst for Nigeria’s industrialization. .
ONGOING ACTIVITIES AND MILESTONES UNDER THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION
Following the discouraging history of Steel Development in Nigeria in the past four and a half decades, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has shown tremendous willingness to address the protracted challenges facing the industry. This noble decision of Mr. President is hinged on the following key objectives to be driven by the new Ministry of Steel Development;
To lead the campaign for the utilization of the abundant Steel Raw Materials in Nigeria for the substitution of imported Steel products which has been draining our foreign exchange to the tune of over $4Billion USD annually;
To evolve a regulatory regime that would ensure sustainable Steel and other Metals production in Nigeria for both local and international markets;
To set and monitor quality standards for local and foreign Steel products to curb structural failures in different construction projects in Nigeria and Generate employment and promote technology transfer for Nigeria’s economic development. We have taken this mandate since assumption of office on 21st August, 2023 with every sense of responsibility and the following milestones/activities were recorded;
Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL)
The Federal Government has decided to privatise the fore-most integrated Steel Plant at Ajaokuta and its captive Iron Ore Mine at Itakpe and we have kick-started the process to ensure the accomplishment of the above. We recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the original builders of the Plant, Messrs. TPE and their partners in Moscow, Russia. The procurement process for the selection of the technical audit firm has been completed and the auditing of the entire plant will commence before end of the year.
Engineering Workshops at ASCL
We are working to also sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Defence and Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) for the production of major input materials for the manufacturing of military hardware using the Five (5) Engineering Workshops in ASCL.
Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (AlSCON)
A high-level executive meeting with Mr. President was held in July, 2024 and we were given a matching order to ensure that all issues encumbering the commencement of operation be resolved. Relevant stakeholders are currently working to address critical issues of sustainable & competitive gas pricing regime, power generation and evacuation into the national grid, ownership tussle and dredging of Imo River.
Prospective New Investments into the Sector
We have also followed up on;
The landmark investment resolution reached between Mr. President and the President of Jindal Steel Group in India on the sidelines of the G-20 Meeting in New Delhi in 2023. Messrs. Jindal Steel Group has pledged to invest about $5 billion USD for the setting up of another 5 million tons steel plant in Nigeria and we are already providing the enabling environment through different organs of Government. This singular investment alone will require over 20 million tons of different steel raw materials to feed the Plant.
The Inner Galaxy Group’s is investing about USD 300 million in a new Steel Plant in Ogun State to produce Galvanized Steel Profiles for the Automotive Industry.
The Bell Oil and Gas USD 100 Million investment in Pipe Value Assembly and Composite Pipe manufacturing Facility in Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos and a host of others.
THE BOOT-CAMP TRAINING PROGRAMME
We are currently evaluating applications from over 225,000 online applications as at close of portal for the Pilot Boot Camp Training Programme for Nigerian youths for Technical Capacity Building in Welding/Fabrication, Industrial Foundry & Metallurgy, Instrumentation, System Control and Mechanical Maintenance. The idea is to train and develop the technical capacities of 700 selected Trainees and support them with equipment to become self-reliant and prepare a new set middle level manpower for the emerging Steel Industry in Nigeria. We are also liaising with tertiary and secondary education authorities in Nigeria to evolve sustainable mechanisms that will elicit interest of the youths in Material Sciences for sustainable manpower supply of the Metals Industry.
OTHER STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Other Strategic initiatives we have embarked upon to re-position the Metals Industry include:
National Steel Summit
I have taken time to inspect a number of local Steel company operators in Nigeria to appreciate their issues and put the necessary fiscal incentives to support their investment. Some of the issues raised include dumping of sub-standard imported products, Energy supply, High cost of Scraps as input materials, forex for importation of equipment and logistics challenges. We shall be organizing a Summit of all stakeholders within the first quarter of 2025 to agree on a wholistic measures to promote our local operators.
Regulatory Frameworks
We collaborated with the National Assembly Committees on Steel Development for quick passage of the following bills:
National Metallurgical Training Institute, Onitsha Establishment Bill;
Metallurgical Industry Bill;
and amendment of National Steel Council Act.
Roadmap for the Steel Industry
As the Regulator cum Administrator of the Metals Industry in Nigeria, we have developed an in-house Ten (10) year sectoral Roadmap for the sustainable growth of the sector with a target production of 10 million Tons of Crude Steel and other metallic products per annum. The document will be ready for presentation to stakeholders at the next summit for their inputs and review where necessary and final adoption by stakeholders. The final Roadmap Document would provide guidance to all industry players and prospective investors on the policy direction of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
CONCLUSION
I want to conclude by drawing our attention to the importance of adopting synergic approach to accomplishing the objectives of the Government Policy on Value-Addition to our solid mineral endowments. Complimentary to the sterling efforts and investments of the Federal Government in Geo-Science Data Generation, we must commensurately drive Value-Addition to our mineral resources to achieve the desired quick wins from Mines to Market.
The Ministry of Steel Development is driving strong initiatives of Value Proposition for accelerated Metallic Minerals Development and therefore urge all industry stakeholders to support Government to convert our abundant mineral resources in Nigeria to semi-finished and finished steel products which will generate massive employment for our teeming youths, significantly improve the economic well-being of our people and meaningfully contribute to Nation’s GDP.
I wish you all a successful deliberation at this 9th Edition of the Nigeria Mining Week.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
BOOT-CAMP TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR NIGERIAN YOUTHS
The Ministry of Steel Development invites applications from existing and aspiring artisans for a one-month intensive boot-camp training programme.
OBJECTIVE: Empower Nigerian youths with advanced technical skills in:
1. Welding & Fabrication
2. Industrial Foundry & Metallurgy
3. Instrumentation Control & Mechanical Maintenance
BENEFITS:
- Expert training and mentorship
- Equipment support for business growth
- Job creation and sustainable livelihoods
ELIGIBILITY: Nigerian Youths (ages 18-40) interested in the metals industry
DURATION: One month
APPLICATION DETAILS: To apply, interested applicants should follow the link below
BOOT-CAMP TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR NIGERIAN YOUTHS
DEADLINE: 30th October, 2024
JOINT TOWN HALL MEETING ORGANISED BY THE MINISTRY OF STEEL DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTRY OF SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT AT THE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA.
Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in a chat during the town hall meeting.
NIGERIA-SOUTH AFRICA BI-NATIONAL COMMISSION MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON GEOLOGY, MINING, MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGY
Right; The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, The Honourable Minister of Mineral Resources & Energy of the Republic of South Africa, Gwede Mantashe MP, Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake during the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission Meeting of the Technical Working Group on Geology, Mining, Mineral Processing and Metallurgy