Ajaokuta Steel revival Nigeria gathers momentum as FG opens talks with top Chinese steel firms to restore key industrial asset and boost manufacturing

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]jaokuta Steel revival Nigeria took a decisive step forward on Friday, as the Federal Government revealed active negotiations with top Chinese steel manufacturers to resuscitate the long-abandoned plant.

Also read: Ajaokuta Steel revival gains momentum as Nigeria holds strategic talks with Sino Steel

Once touted as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial ambition, the Ajaokuta Steel Company has suffered decades of neglect, poor policy execution, and failed investments.

Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, is currently leading a high-level federal delegation to China with the aim of securing strategic partnerships that can provide both the technical know-how and financial muscle needed to bring the steel giant back to life.

The talks form part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which places heavy emphasis on industrial self-reliance and large-scale job creation.

The Nigerian delegation includes the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Mr Joseph Tegbe, alongside senior officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing.

Together, they have held meetings with major Chinese steel corporations including Sino Steel, Fangda Steel Group, and Jingye Steel Group.

According to a statement from Lizzy Okoji, the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, the discussions focused on conducting comprehensive technical assessments of the facility, designing modern operational models, and establishing sustainable financing frameworks.

The goal is to return Ajaokuta to full productivity, positioning it as a key driver of industrial growth.

“Our objective is clear: to secure strong technical and financial partnerships that can help us bring Ajaokuta Steel back to life.

The facility has immense potential to catalyse industrial growth, boost local manufacturing, and generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians,” Audu stated during the mission.

Mr Tegbe reinforced the strategic importance of the meetings, calling them “a move to align China’s vast industrial capabilities with Nigeria’s economic development goals.”

He stressed that Nigeria is committed to forming transformative partnerships capable of unlocking long-term economic value across the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

Originally conceived in the late 1970s, the Ajaokuta Steel project was intended to transform Nigeria into a major global producer of steel. Yet the dream stalled due to a mixture of political missteps, lack of continuity, and investment shortfalls.

Its installed capacity stands at 1.9 million tonnes of steel per annum, with the potential to scale to five million tonnes.

The facility is viewed as pivotal in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported steel and in advancing key sectors such as construction, automobile production, and heavy machinery.

Reviving Ajaokuta could not only support local industries but also redirect billions of dollars currently spent on steel imports toward domestic development.

With growing calls to harness local capacity for infrastructure delivery, the Federal Government’s renewed push has been broadly welcomed.

Also read: Ajaokuta Steel Revival: Nigeria-China strategic partnership aims to industrialise Nigeria

The success of this mission to China could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s industrial journey and finally breathe life into a steel dream that has lingered for nearly five decades.