The Federal Government is targeting technology transfer from German Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to strengthen steel production and develop Nigeria’s mineral processing and metallurgical value chains.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, stated this on Thursday, September 24, 2026, when he received a delegation of German OEMs led by the Head of VDMA-German Original Equipment Manufacturers, Dr Chux Onaa, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Audu said the engagement was aimed at translating previous discussions between Nigeria and Germany into concrete areas of industrial collaboration, investment and technology transfer.
He recalled engagements at 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.
“The presence of the German delegation in Nigeria demonstrates the growing interest of German industries in the country’s industrial sector and presents an opportunity to build sustainable partnerships that will deliver tangible benefits to both nations,” the minister said.
Audu said Nigeria possessed 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 was 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.
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.
According to him, stronger collaboration with German manufacturers would provide opportunities to develop local value chains while improving Nigeria’s capacity to process its mineral resources and produce materials required by domestic industries.
Audu described the German delegation’s visit as a significant step towards building a high-technology and mutually beneficial industrial partnership between both countries.
He expressed optimism that the discussions would lead to specific areas of collaboration and partnerships capable of advancing industrial development in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Steel Development, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, said the engagement aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s decision to establish a dedicated Ministry of Steel Development to revitalise the sector.
Earlier, Onaa said the delegation’s visit was intended to consolidate existing areas of collaboration and investment in Nigeria’s steel industry.
He said VDMA’s German OEMs had technologies capable of supporting raw materials processing, particularly in the cement and building materials industries, adding that the delegation was prepared to explore how such technologies could contribute to Nigeria’s industrial development.