Niger Hands 500 Hectares to AIG for Solar Farm, Industrial Park

The Niger State Government has officially handed over 500 hectares of land to Abuja Steel Mills Limited, a subsidiary of African Industries Group (AIG), to develop a solar farm and the AIG Industrial Park. This significant move is intended to accelerate industrialization, attract substantial investment, and generate employment opportunities within the state.

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What we are witnessing is more than a ceremony, but is a clear declaration of our unwavering commitment to transforming Niger State into a leading investment destination of choice for sustainable economic growth. It is an indication that our vision of building a new Niger is not only a promise, it is steadily becoming a reality.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago formally presented the land during a groundbreaking ceremony in Sabon Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area. He emphasized that the project signifies a major stride towards positioning Niger State as a premier investment hub. "What we are witnessing is more than a ceremony, but is a clear declaration of our unwavering commitment to transforming Niger State into a leading investment destination of choice for sustainable economic growth," Bago stated, adding that the vision for a "new Niger" is becoming a reality.

The governor highlighted the project's strategic advantage, noting it will leverage the state's abundant land, gas resources from the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline, and its four major hydropower dams, Kainji, Jebba, Zungeru, and Shiroro, to fuel industrial expansion. He commended Abuja Steel Mills for their investment and urged the local Dikko community to support the initiative, viewing it as a catalyst for further industrial and investor interest.

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It’s not just an opportunity to build industry, create jobs but really for me its main purpose is development and upliftment and empowerment of people.

Raj Gupta, Group Chairman of African Industries Group, described the land allocation as "historic." He articulated that the investment transcends mere business expansion, aiming primarily for the "development and upliftment and empowerment of people." Gupta expressed confidence that the solar project could become the largest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, potentially placing Nigeria on the global map for both steel production and renewable energy. Ministers of Power, Steel Development, and the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning also lauded the project, underscoring its importance for economic growth and job creation.

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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.