Niger State hands over 500 hectares to Abuja steel mills for 200MW solar farm
In a move set to reshape West Africa’s industrial and renewable energy landscapes, the Niger State Government has officially handed over 500 hectares of land to Abuja Steel Mills Limited for the development of a landmark 200MW solar farm and the integrated African Industries Group (AIG) Industrial Park.
The project, described as what will likely become the largest solar-powered industrial installation in Sub-Saharan Africa, marks a major step forward in aligning heavy industry with renewable energy solutions.
Speaking at the groundbreaking and handover ceremony in Sabon Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area, the Executive Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, stated that the initiative is a definitive execution of his administration’s vision for a New Niger.
“What we are witnessing is more than a ceremony, it is a clear declaration of our unwavering commitment to transforming Niger State into a leading investment destination for sustainable economic growth,” Governor Bago declared, adding that the development will stimulate an industrial boom, create massive jobs, and prioritize local employment.
The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe also commended the Governor’s proactive leadership, calling the land allocation an act of industrial statesmanship.
“The most consequential legacy is the economic activity that government catalyses, the private investments it attracts, and the jobs that are created long after it leaves office.”
“Five hundred hectares of land transferred in good faith to a credible private investor is precisely that kind of legacy,” Tegbe noted.
The 200MW solar power project will directly feed the operations of Abuja Steel Mills (a subsidiary of the African Industries Group), bridging the historical gap between sustainable energy access and heavy manufacturing.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, emphasized that AIG’s multi-billion dollar investments are pivotal to expanding local manufacturing and reducing the nation’s reliance on imports.
Responding to the land handover, the Chairman of African Industries Group, Mr. Raj Gupta, expressed his gratitude to the state government, noting that Niger State has proven to be a reliable and progressive partner for large-scale investment.
“This historic day is not just an opportunity to build industry and create jobs. For us, its main purpose is development, upliftment, and the empowerment of people. With this, we would perhaps have the largest installation in Sub-Saharan Africa, placing Nigeria not only on the world steel map but also on the global renewable energy map,” Gupta said.
To further catalyze this economic corridor, Governor Bago also disclosed plans for the state to gazette an additional 200,000 hectares of land stretching toward the Kaduna State boundary.