By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has moved to deepen Nigeria-Germany cooperation in the steel and metallurgical sectors, with a focus on technology transfer, mineral processing, equipment manufacturing and industrial investment.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, stated this when he received a delegation of German Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), led by the Head of VDMA-German Original Equipment Manufacturers, Dr. Chux Onaa, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement by Mr. Ijomah E. Opia, on behalf of the Head, Press and Public Relations, on Friday, Audu said the visit provided an opportunity to translate previous engagements between Nigeria and Germany into concrete industrial partnerships capable of strengthening the country's steel value chain.
He recalled discussions held during the 9th German-African Economic Forum in Dortmund, Germany, earlier in the year, where both countries explored opportunities in steel development, mining, mineral processing, engineering, technology transfer and industrial investment.
According to the Minister, the presence of the German delegation reflects growing interest by German industries in Nigeria's industrial sector and offers an opportunity to establish sustainable partnerships that would benefit both countries.
He noted that Nigeria has significant mineral and metallurgical resources as well as a large and expanding market, stressing that the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for a competitive, technology-driven and sustainable steel industry.
Audu identified potential areas of collaboration to include modern technology deployment, equipment manufacturing and supply, mineral processing, steel production, engineering services, capacity development, technology transfer and local value-chain development.
He also expressed the Ministry's readiness to explore opportunities for German OEMs to participate in ongoing and emerging projects within Nigeria's steel and metallurgical sectors.
The Minister described the visit as an important milestone towards building a high-technology and mutually beneficial industrial partnership between Nigeria and Germany, expressing optimism that the engagement would produce specific areas of collaboration and investment.
He reiterated Nigeria's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Germany in the steel and metallurgical sectors.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, said the visit aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the creation of the Ministry was aimed at revitalising the steel sector and accelerating Nigeria's industrialisation.
Earlier, the leader of the German delegation, Dr. Chux Onaa, said the visit was aimed at consolidating existing areas of collaboration and identifying further investment opportunities in Nigeria's steel sector.
Onaa added that German OEMs possess technologies that can support raw-material processing, particularly in the cement and building materials industries.