Nigeria, Germany Deepen Industrial Partnership

Nigeria and Germany are exploring stronger cooperation in steel development, mineral processing, equipment manufacturing and technology transfer as the government seeks to expand local industrial capacity.

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

A statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ijomah Opia, on Friday said the meeting aimed to turn previous discussions between Nigeria and Germany into concrete investment and industrial partnerships.

Audu recalled that both countries had discussed opportunities in steel development, mining, mineral processing, engineering and technology transfer during engagements at the 9th German-African Economic Forum in Dortmund, Germany, earlier this year.

He said the latest visit reflected growing German interest in Nigeria’s industrial sector and reaffirmed the government’s readiness to work with German companies to strengthen the country’s steel and metallurgical industries.

According to Audu, Nigeria has significant mineral and metallurgical resources as well as a large and expanding market capable of supporting industrial development.

He said, “Nigeria possesses significant mineral and metallurgical raw material resources, alongside a large and growing market with substantial opportunities for industrial development. 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.”

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

The minister said Nigeria was particularly interested in opportunities for German Original Equipment Manufacturers to participate in existing and emerging projects across the steel and metallurgical sectors.

He added that deeper cooperation with German manufacturers could help Nigeria develop local value chains and reduce its dependence on imported equipment and technology.

Audu described the engagement as an important step toward building a high-technology industrial partnership between the two countries and expressed hope that the discussions would lead to specific investment and collaboration opportunities.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, said the engagement aligned with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that President Bola Tinubu established the Ministry of Steel Development to accelerate the sector’s revitalisation.