By Mary Izuaka

 

The Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi  Tegbe, has announced Nigeria’s groundbreaking step toward industrial and energy transformation with the launch of Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest off-grid solar project.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by Clement Ezeorah, the deputy director, press and public relations in the ministry.

Mr Ezeorah said the federal government, in partnership with the Niger State Government and Abuja Steel Mills Limited, a subsidiary of African Industries Group, is leading the initiative.

The ceremony was attended by key federal ministers, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago and industry leaders.

The groundbreaking ceremony for a 200MW solar mini-grid project, designed to power a new industrial park anchored by a modern steel plant, took place last weekend in Minna, Niger State, the statement said.

Mr Ezeorah said the project site, spanning 500 hectares, was formally handed over to Abuja Steel Mills by Governor Bago, marking a significant step toward industrial and energy development in the region.

Mr Tegbe said the initiative is part of Nigeria’s deliberate strategy to build clean, reliable, and scalable energy outside the national grid.

“It aims to secure predictable energy costs, insulate industrial operations from supply variability, and provide surplus electricity to surrounding communities,” the minister said.

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He stated that by embedding renewable generation directly into industrial infrastructure, Abuja Steel Mills will produce its own clean energy at scale.

“This model redefines off-grid power not as a fallback but as a foundation for industrial growth, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which envisions clean energy, distributed generation, and private capital driving Nigeria’s economic future,” the statement said.

He further emphasised that the federal government considers the project’s infrastructure requirements a national economic priority.

He said Mr Bago’s land allocation further demonstrates Niger State’s commitment to enabling private-led clean energy initiatives, signalling to investors that sub-national governments are ready to support commercially viable renewable projects.

“This development is more than a milestone for one company or sector. It is a signal to domestic investors, international financiers, and local communities that Nigeria’s clean energy and industrial futures are being built together—deliberately, at scale, and off-grid, but very much on purpose.”