In an interview with Mining Review Africa during Nigeria Mining Week 2025 (NMW25), Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu, Honourable Minister of Steel Development, shared key milestones and priorities driving the revitalisation of Nigeria’s steel sector.

Audu noted that 2025 has been a pivotal year for the industry, with renewed efforts to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and Itakpe Iron Ore operations through credible public-private partnerships.

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“We are committed to turning Nigeria into a major steel-producing nation,” he said. “The reforms underway are not just about production—they are about creating a sustainable value chain that supports industrialisation and job creation.”

He added that the government is working to attract and protect local mining and steel investments through tax incentives, access to finance, and better infrastructure. “Our approach focuses on empowering local investors and ensuring that the mining and steel sectors work hand in hand,” Audu explained.

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Collaboration between the Ministry of Steel Development and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development is central to this strategy, ensuring that raw materials mined in Nigeria are processed locally. “The ultimate goal,” Audu concluded, “is to position Nigeria as the steel powerhouse of West Africa.”