BY AKUDORO GLORIA

Nigeria’s Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu has met with the Executives of Sino Steel Engineering and Technology Company Ltd on the revitalisation of Ajaokuta Steel Company.

The Nigeria-China strategic partnership meeting which took place at the company’s headquarters in Beijing, China, focused on advancing the long-delayed revitalization of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, a key industrial asset considered critical to Nigeria’s manufacturing ambitions and job creation strategy.

The Minister disclosed the development on his official X handle, describing its strategic engagement. He said discussions also centered around technical evaluations, operational modelling, and financing frameworks required to restore the facility to full productivity.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of the Ajaokuta facility, stressing the importance of working with credible international partners.

Prince Audu emphasized his Ministry’s determination to move beyond rhetoric and deliver a steel sector that drives national industrial growth and global competitiveness.

In his remarks, the Director-General of Sino Steel, Dr. Joseph Tegbe said the discussions with the Minister were strategic, technical, and action-oriented, stating that the collaboration reflects a strong alignment between Nigerian economic aspirations and China’s expertise in large-scale industrial development.

He expressed Sino Steel readiness to deploy a technical team for an on-site viability assessment of the Ajaokuta plant in the coming weeks.

Tegbe asserted that the company will subsequently present a comprehensive proposal outlining a phased roadmap for modernization and operational optimization.

He noted that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian government has placed renewed emphasis on industrialization, infrastructure development, and local content participation.

Ajaokuta Steel Company, with an existing installed capacity of 1.9 million tonnes and the potential to scale up to 5 million tonnes annually, remains a cornerstone of this agenda, particularly in supporting the automotive, construction, and heavy machinery sectors.

This engagement is one of several high-level interactions between Nigerian and Chinese stakeholders in recent months, as the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership continues to play a central role in catalyzing bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, manufacturing, and industrial development.