Nigeria's Three Billion Tonnes of Iron Ore Linked to Reviving Ajaokuta Steel Plant

Nigeria’s National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) says the country holds roughly three billion tonnes of iron ore, chiefly in the Itakpe deposit of Kogi State. Director‑General Kolawole Ogunbiyi announced that the reserves could supply the long‑delayed Ajaokuta Steel Complex for decades, offering a strategic resource to drive industrialisation and reduce reliance on imported steel.

Despite the abundance, the steel plant has not yet begun commercial production. NSRMEA and the federal government stress that further geological testing, reliable funding and established off‑takers are essential before the ore can be turned into steel, jobs and economic growth. President Bola Tinubu has warned against exporting raw minerals without added value and urges a regional approach to processing resources locally.