Nigeria has taken the drive to develop its steel industry to China as the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, and the Minister for Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu are currently on a high-level working visit to the Asian country to attract strategic development projects and deepening industrial cooperation with key Chinese partners.
The delegation held a strategic meeting with executives of Sino Steel, one of China’s largest and most influential steel conglomerates over the revitalization of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, a key industrial asset considered critical to Nigeria’s manufacturing ambitions and job creation strategy. The talks centred around technical evaluations, operational modelling, and financing frameworks required to restore the facility to full productivity.
A statement on Wednesday from NCSP, said earlier Mr Tegbe had met with the leadership of Jingye Steel, one of China’s foremost private steel manufacturers with a global footprint, where they explored the possibility of establishing integrated steel mills in Nigeria, a critical step toward strengthening local capacity for steel production and supporting key sectors such as infrastructure, automotive manufacturing, and construction.
The Minister for Steel subsequently led Nigerian officials on a site visit to the production facilities of Jingye Steel, located in the Hebei province in China.
In Beijing, Tegbe held a productive meeting with SYS Company, a leading water engineering and environmental solutions firm specializing in wastewater recycling and renewable energy generation. Discussions focused on the potential deployment of SYS’s innovative technologies in Nigeria, particularly in converting wastewater into reusable resources and power. The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the development of a circular economy that supports energy diversification.
Earlier in the visit, the Director-General of NCSP held a follow-up meeting with executives of CSSC Haishen, advancing a prior understanding between the Chinese firm and CPL Ltd, a leading Nigerian medical and pharmaceutical equipment company. The meeting centered on securing competitive pricing for medical equipment, enhancing knowledge transfer and operational support, and identifying financing solutions to ensure the long-term sustainability of the healthcare modernization initiative.
According to the statement, these strategic engagements underscore NCSP’s broader mission to build transformative partnerships that harness China’s technological expertise and Nigeria’s development priorities—delivering practical outcomes across health, industry, infrastructure, and environmental innovation.
