Nigeria-India Trade Relations Strengthen in Mining and Steel Sectors
In a significant move to bolster economic ties, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Abhishek Singh, has reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing bilateral trade relations between the two nations, with a particular focus on the mining and steel industries. This announcement came during a recent visit to the African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML), a subsidiary of the African Industries Group (AIG), located in Gujeni Village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
High Commissioner's Visit and Support for Indian Professionals
During his tour, Singh expressed strong support for the Indian professionals working at the facility and encouraged AIG to continue its contributions to Nigeria's mining sector. He highlighted the strategic importance of this plant, which is situated along the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria Expressway in Kaduna State. Singh noted that the facility represents a $600 million investment in Nigeria and is one of the largest enterprises operated by Indian industrialists, who have been active in the country for over five decades.
Singh stated, "I express my support to all the Indians working here and urged AIG to continue their efforts in the important mining sector, which contributes to further strengthening India-Nigeria trade relations." His visit also included stops at AIG's Abuja Steel Mills, exploration unit, and solar power facilities in Sabon-Wuse, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in Niger State. He commended the scale of operations, particularly the solar plant, which ranks among the largest in Nigeria and provides energy for steel production.
AIG's Role and Government Support
In response, the Group Managing Director of AIG, Mr. Alok Gupta, expressed appreciation for the High Commissioner's visit and acknowledged the supportive role of the Nigerian government in fostering a conducive business environment. Gupta highlighted several high-level engagements with government officials, including visits from the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, and the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake, in 2024.
Gupta said, "In 2024, the Minister of Steel Development Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu visited ANRML and applauded the $600 million investment and affirmed ANRML's role in President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. Also, the same year, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake, during his visit commended ANRML as a model for value addition and declared it a benchmark for the Nigerian mining sector." He added that the Minister of Industry, Doris Uzoka-Anite, hailed ANRML as a cornerstone of Nigeria's quest for sustainable economic prosperity and alignment with the Nigeria Automotive Industry Plan.
ANRML's Impact and Future Prospects
Gupta provided detailed insights into ANRML's operations, describing it as one of Nigeria's largest non-oil Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), with over $600 million invested in an iron ore mining and processing facility. The plant is fully integrated, featuring beneficiation, pelletizing, and Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) production with waste heat recovery, and equipment sourced from four continents.
He emphasized that the company employs more than 4,000 people directly and indirectly and has a mining capacity of over 5 million tons per annum, with NI 43-101 certified iron ore resources. Gupta explained, "Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) produced is a direct, sustainable substitute for ferrous scrap, the current raw material for steel production in Nigeria. By supplying DRI domestically, we reduce Nigeria's dependence on imported steel, save hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign exchange, and progressively elevate its status as a major global producer of crude steel."
Additionally, Gupta disclosed that the company operates an ultra-modern mineral analysis laboratory in Niger State, accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 standards, further promoting local value addition in the mining industry. He described ANRML as a significant milestone in AIG's over five decades of industrial presence in Nigeria, emphasizing its role as a fully integrated value chain, from iron ore extraction to high-grade DRI production, positioning Nigeria for greater participation in the global steel market.
This development underscores the growing economic collaboration between Nigeria and India, with potential benefits for job creation, technology transfer, and enhanced trade volumes in key sectors.
