The Federal Government has intensified efforts to attract advanced German technology, equipment manufacturing and foreign direct investment to strengthen Nigeria’s local steel sector and accelerate national industrialisation.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, disclosed this while receiving a high-level delegation of German Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), led by Dr Chux Onaa, Head of the VDMA-German Original Equipment Manufacturers, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The visit builds on earlier economic discussions held at the 9th German-African Economic Forum in Dortmund, Germany, as Nigeria works towards transitioning from the export of raw minerals to developing a fully integrated and value-adding steel economy.
Speaking during the bilateral meeting, Audu said Nigeria is strategically positioning its vast raw material reserves and rapidly growing market to attract technical and financial partnerships with leading international manufacturers.
“Nigeria possesses significant mineral and metallurgical raw material resources, alongside a large and growing market with substantial opportunities for industrial development,” Audu stated.
He added that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Steel Development, is committed to creating an enabling environment for a competitive, technology-driven and sustainable steel industry capable of supporting infrastructure development, manufacturing, job creation and economic diversification.
The minister specifically invited German manufacturers to participate in ongoing and emerging national industrial projects, with a focus on technical collaboration in mineral processing, equipment manufacturing, capacity building and engineering services to establish local value chains.
“The presence of the German delegation in Nigeria demonstrates the growing interest of German industries in the country’s industrial sector and presents an opportunity to build sustainable partnerships that will deliver tangible benefits to both nations,” Prince Audu said.
Supporting the initiative, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, noted that attracting foreign capital and high-tech expertise is central to the administration’s policy framework.
“This visit is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who thought it wise to create the Ministry of Steel Development in order to revitalise the steel sector for the industrialisation of the country,” Rimi remarked.
Responding on behalf of the German delegation, Dr Chux Onaa confirmed that the VDMA-German OEMs are prepared to deploy specialised technologies to support raw material processing and strengthen industrial operations in Nigeria.
“The visit to the Ministry is to enable us to consolidate areas of collaboration and investment for the development of the steel sector in Nigeria,” Onaa explained.
He noted that the organisation possesses specialised technology capable of supporting raw material processing for both the building materials and heavy construction industries.
The Ministry expressed optimism that the engagement will result in concrete investments and technical agreements, strengthening a long-term industrial partnership between Nigeria and Germany.
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