The Federal Government of Nigeria is seeking to strengthen its steel production and develop the country's mineral processing and metallurgical value chains through technology transfer from German Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). This was stated by the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, during a meeting with a delegation of German OEMs led by Dr. Chux Onaa at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja on September 24, 2026.
The engagement between the Nigerian government and German OEMs aims to translate previous discussions into concrete areas of industrial collaboration, investment, and technology transfer. The minister recalled the 9th German-African Economic Forum in Dortmund, Germany, earlier in the year, where both countries explored opportunities in steel value chain development, mining, mineral processing, engineering, technology transfer, and industrial investment.
Prince Audu emphasized that Nigeria has significant mineral and metallurgical raw materials, as well as a large and growing market capable of supporting increased industrial production. He stressed that the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for a competitive, technology-driven, and sustainable steel industry that can support infrastructure development, manufacturing, job creation, and economic diversification.
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 cooperation with German companies. He also expressed the ministry's interest in having German OEMs participate in ongoing and emerging projects across Nigeria's steel and metallurgical sectors.
A stronger collaboration with German manufacturers is expected to provide opportunities for Nigeria to develop local value chains while improving the country's capacity to process its mineral resources and produce materials required by domestic industries. Prince Audu described the German delegation's visit as a significant step towards building a high-technology and mutually beneficial industrial partnership between both countries.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Steel Development, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, noted that the engagement aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration's decision to establish a dedicated Ministry of Steel Development to revitalize the sector. Dr. Onaa said the delegation's visit was intended to consolidate existing areas of collaboration and investment in Nigeria's steel industry.
The German delegation's visit is expected to lead to specific areas of collaboration and partnerships capable of advancing industrial development in Nigeria. The VDMA's German OEMs have technologies that can support raw materials processing, particularly in the cement and building materials industries, and are prepared to explore how such technologies can contribute to Nigeria's industrial development.
Key points
- The Federal Government of Nigeria is targeting technology transfer from German Original Equipment Manufacturers to strengthen steel production and develop the country's mineral processing and metallurgical value chains.
- The engagement between the Nigerian government and German OEMs aims to translate previous discussions into concrete areas of industrial collaboration, investment, and technology transfer.
- A stronger collaboration with German manufacturers is expected to provide opportunities for Nigeria to develop local value chains while improving the country's capacity to process its mineral resources and produce materials required by domestic industries.
