…Says Tinubu Administration on Track to Reposition Nigeria’s Steel Industry Before 2027
…Orbit Plant Adds 50,000 Metric Tons to Nigeria’s Tower Fabrication Capacity
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, on Tuesday has officially commissioned the Orbit Galvanising Steel Industries Limited and Orbit Fabrication Works Limited in Lagos State, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s galvanising and steel fabrication sub-sector.
The twin facilities, owned by African Industries Group (AIG), were hailed by the Minister as a “landmark achievement” in the federal government’s push to reindustrialize Nigeria’s economy through private sector partnerships.
The commissioning was part of the Minister’s working visit to Lagos, where he engaged key industry stakeholders to deepen private sector involvement in the ongoing revival of the nation’s steel sector.
Commending AIG’s strategic investments, Prince Audu stated: “This plant is a pioneering achievement in the galvanising sub-sector and a testament to AIG’s unwavering commitment to local manufacturing, job creation, and economic sustainability—all in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
According to the Minister, the new Orbit facility has the capacity to produce up to 50,000 metric tons of fabricated towers annually, boosting Nigeria’s total tower fabrication capacity to approximately 200,000 metric tons per year.
He emphasized that the Tinubu administration remains committed to restoring Nigeria’s steel industry before the end of its tenure, driven by policies on local content, industrial expansion, and import substitution.
“This plant strengthens our backward integration efforts. With galvanized steel now being produced locally, we reduce dependence on imports and conserve foreign exchange,” he said.
“I urge both public and private sector end-users to patronize locally manufactured steel products. This facility currently employs over 350 Nigerians and has the potential to serve not just Nigeria but the wider ECOWAS region.”
Prince Audu noted that the Federal Government had previously granted concessionary import duties on galvanized steel products in recognition of their critical importance to national infrastructure and economic growth.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to fostering a level playing field for local investors, he called on more private sector players to follow the example set by AIG.
In his remarks, Mr. Rajah Gupta, a Director at AIG, speaking on behalf of the company’s Chairman, highlighted the group’s longstanding presence in Nigeria and its strategic focus on value addition and export readiness.
“We have invested over $600 million in Nigeria’s steel and mining sectors—making us the largest non-oil foreign direct investor in the country,” Gupta said.
“Our next milestone is exporting Basic Raw Iron (BRI) produced from Nigerian iron ore, thereby transforming the country into a net exporter of steel products.”
He noted that AIG’s manufacturing strategy is firmly rooted in import substitution, which aims to transform local raw materials into high-value products while saving foreign exchange.
During his Lagos visit, the Minister also paid a courtesy call to the Lagos State Government, where he was warmly received by Deputy Governor Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat.
Prince Audu reiterated the importance of continued collaboration, stressing that over 60% of private steel investments in Nigeria are concentrated in Lagos.
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“Lagos is one of Africa’s top five economies and a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial future. President Tinubu laid the foundation for this trajectory, and your administration has continued to deliver on that vision,” he told the Deputy Governor.
In response, Dr. Hamzat assured the Minister of the state’s readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government to address the challenges facing steel operators in the state.
