By Ifeoluwa Odunayo
In a move to drive homegrown development, the federal government is exploring how locally produced steel can power Nigeria’s expanding digital infrastructure.
With plans to lay ninety thousand kilometres of fibre optic cables and erect seven thousand telecom towers, the Ministries of Communications and Steel Development are joining forces to see if Nigeria’s steel sector can meet the demand.
This collaboration could significantly cut import dependence and boost job creation.
The ministers also proposed reinforcing over forty thousand existing telecom masts and setting up new technology hubs within industrial parks.
However, Nigeria’s steel industry still wrestles with low production capacity, unreliable infrastructure, and outdated equipment, raising concerns about whether it can keep up with the scale of demand.
The initiative offers promise for a more self-reliant economy, but success hinges on revitalising the steel sector. The challenge is clear-can Nigeria connect its future with steel forged at home?
