The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, on Saturday, June 20, 2026, joined Niger State Governor, His Excellency Mohammed Umar Bago, the Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe and the Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Owan Enoh to perform the groundbreaking ceremony and hand over 500 hectares of land in Dikko Community, Niger State to Abuja Steel Mills Limited, a subsidiary of the African Industries Group (AIG), for a 200 Megawatts solar power project set to become the largest solar-powered industrial energy project in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The project is particularly significant for the steel sector, as it will generate the power required to support the operations and future expansion of Abuja Steel Mills, reinforcing the critical link between power and steel as key drivers of Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic transformation.
Speaking at the event, Minister Audu said that the project represents another significant milestone in the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, aimed at attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), boosting local production, and growing Nigeria’s GDP to $1 trillion by 2030. Prince Audu commended Governor Bago’s allocation of 500 hectares of land for the project as a bold decision that will project Niger State as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrialisation drive.
In his remarks, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago thanked the African Industries Group for choosing Niger State as the location for the transformational project and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting private sector-led investments.
“The project is a clear testament to what government and the private sector can achieve together for national development,” Governor Bago stated, while urging the host community of Dikko to protect the facility as a national asset and calling on the company to prioritise employment opportunities for local residents.
Group Chairman of African Industries Group, Mr Raj Gupta, described the occasion as historic, noting that the company’s over five decades of operations in Nigeria have been driven by a commitment to development, empowerment and industrial growth.
Also speaking, the Honourable Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe, commended Governor Bago for his act of industrial statesmanship, describing the development of the power project as a bold and visionary decision that will position Niger State at the heart of Nigeria’s industrialisation ecosystem.
Similarly, the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, noting that the event brought together the critical sectors of power, steel and industry. He emphasised the importance of inter-ministerial synergy in driving sustainable national development and commended AIG for fostering such collaboration.
Signed
Lizzy Okoji
Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Steel Development,
Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu
June 21, 2026
