Niger State has allocated 500 hectares of land to Abuja Steel Mills Limited, a subsidiary of Raj Gupta's African Industries Group (AIG), for the construction of what the company says could become sub-Saharan Africa's largest solar-powered steel manufacturing facility, alongside a new industrial park.
The project will combine a large-scale steel manufacturing complex with a dedicated solar power plant and the proposed AIG Industrial Park, reflecting Nigeria's growing push to reduce manufacturers' dependence on the country's unreliable electricity grid.
Raj Gupta, Chairman of African Industries Group, described the land allocation as historic, saying the solar installation could become the largest in Nigeria and potentially the biggest supporting a steel operation anywhere in West Africa or sub-Saharan Africa.
Niger bets on industry
The investment aligns with Governor Mohammed Umar Bago's broader ambition to position Niger State as Nigeria's next major industrial corridor.
