Nigeria’s reliance on imported iron and steel has come under renewed scrutiny after the country’s import bill for the products exceeded N1 trillion in 2025, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The figure highlights the economic implications of continued dependence on foreign steel despite Nigeria’s substantial steel resources and the presence of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State, which has remained largely inactive for more than four decades. Steel is considered a critical component of industrialisation, with applications spanning manufacturing, construction, transportation, infrastructure, defence and other...