FG Woos German Firms to Revive Nigeria’s Steel Industry

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to attract German technology and investment into Nigeria’s steel industry as part of plans to expand mineral processing, equipment manufacturing and local industrial value chains.

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, disclosed this when he received a delegation of German Original Equipment Manufacturers led by the Head of VDMA-German OEMs, Dr Chux Onaa, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Audu said the engagement was aimed at translating earlier discussions between Nigeria and Germany into concrete investment and industrial partnerships in steel development, mining, mineral processing, engineering and technology transfer.

He said Nigeria possessed significant mineral and metallurgical resources, alongside a large and growing market capable of supporting expanded industrial production.

The minister identified modern technology deployment, equipment manufacturing and supply, mineral processing, steel production, engineering services, capacity development and technology transfer as key areas for collaboration with German companies.

He said stronger partnerships with German manufacturers would help Nigeria develop local value chains and reduce dependence on imported equipment and technology.

Audu described the German delegation’s visit as an important step towards establishing a high-technology industrial partnership between both countries, expressing hope that the discussions would lead to specific investment opportunities.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, said the engagement aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to revitalise the steel industry and accelerate its contribution to national development.

Earlier, Onaa said the delegation was in Nigeria to consolidate existing discussions on investment and collaboration in the steel sector.

He said German OEMs possessed technologies that could support the processing of raw materials for industries, including cement and building materials.

The engagement forms part of Nigeria’s wider efforts to revive its steel industry, expand manufacturing, create jobs, deepen local processing of mineral resources and diversify the economy beyond crude oil dependence.