Nigeria breaks ground on Sub‑Saharan Africa’s largest solar‑powered steel complex

On 24 June 2026, Nigeria’s federal ministers of Power, Steel Development and Industry, together with Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, inaugurated the groundbreaking of a 200‑megawatt solar mini‑grid on 500 hectares in Niger State. The project, led by Abuja Steel Mills Ltd – a subsidiary of African Industries Group – will be the largest off‑grid solar installation in Sub‑Saharan Africa and will supply electricity to a new industrial park that includes a steel plant.

The initiative is a flagship of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda and of the Ministry of Steel Development’s drive to revive the country’s steel sector, including legacy assets such as Ajaokuta Steel Company. Officials highlighted fiscal incentives, tax holidays, import‑duty exemptions and the African Continental Free Trade Area as tools to attract investors for iron‑ore mining, pelletisation, rolling mills and related manufacturing. By delivering dedicated renewable power, the project aims to provide reliable, low‑cost energy, reduce dependence on the national grid and serve as a model for future industrial sites across Nigeria.