In a renewed drive to deepen local content and industrial growth, the Federal Ministries of Steel Development and Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy have initiated a strategic partnership to integrate domestically produced steel into Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure projects.
This collaboration was formalized during a courtesy visit on May 20, 2025, when the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, met with Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, in Abuja. The meeting focused on leveraging local steel for the planned rollout of telecom towers and fibre optic networks nationwide, as well as proposals to establish a technology hub at the Ajaokuta Industrial Park and Free Trade Zone.
Speaking through the ministry’s spokesperson, Salamatu F. Jibaniya, Prince Audu emphasized that the alliance aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the administration’s commitment to bolstering domestic industries and reducing dependence on imported materials.
Audu cited the capacity of Nigeria’s steel manufacturers to meet the demands of the digital infrastructure sector. “Your plan to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable and build 7,000 telecom towers at an estimated cost of N3.3 trillion presents a great opportunity for collaboration. Local galvanised steel plants, such as the one recently commissioned in Ogun State, are well-equipped to supply anti-rust materials suitable for telecom tower construction,” he stated.
The minister further advocated for the inclusion of local artisans and welders in the project, noting ongoing training initiatives in the steel sector that could be expanded through the Ministry of Communications’ digital skills programmes. “We have skilled workers capable of executing the physical structures that support telecom expansion,” he added.
Responding, Dr. Tijani welcomed the partnership, describing it as a timely step toward sustainable development. He affirmed that locally produced steel would be prioritised in the construction of telecom towers and that efforts would be made to ensure the continued involvement of local players in the maintenance and operation of the infrastructure.
“My aim is for all steel-related components of this telecom expansion to be sourced entirely from within Nigeria. Collaboration between our ministries will not only strengthen our industrial base but also create jobs and support long-term economic transformation,” Tijani said.
Both ministers agreed to establish a joint technical committee to facilitate smooth implementation and ensure effective coordination between their respective agencies and stakeholders in the private sector.
