Under the agreement signed with Hitech Construction Africa Ltd, the company will supply a total of 120,000 tonnes of steel for the modernization of the Tin Can Island and Lagos Apapa port complexes. The order stands out not only as one of British Steel’s largest for semi-finished steel (billets) used in construction materials, but also as the largest order supported by UK Export Finance.
To fulfill the order, the company is increasing production at its Scunthorpe facility. CEO Allan Bell said, “This is a record-breaking contract for British Steel and represents a significant boost for our 4,000 employees and many more across our supply chain. Following the government intervention last April, everyone has worked hard to stabilize the business. This agreement represents our transition from stability to long-term sustainability.”
Bell emphasized that the contract demonstrates confidence in British steel and the UK manufacturing sector, stating, “It is also the largest order we have secured to date with UK Export Finance, highlighting how we are working with the UK Government to meet global demand for our products. We look forward to working with Hitech Construction Africa Ltd on this transformative project.”
The project aims to modernize Nigeria’s port infrastructure, improve operational efficiency and expand the country’s trade capacity. The announcement was made today at a special ceremony in London and follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed last year. This development highlights the strengthening of UK–Nigeria trade relations and the importance of private sector partnerships in infrastructure projects.
Delivery and technical details
The billets to be supplied by British Steel will be in 140 mm rebar-grade quality, with deliveries set to begin this spring and continue over the next three years. Commercial Director for Semi-Finished Products Craig Harvey said, “Our capacity and capabilities enable us to offer a unique solution to developers of large-scale infrastructure projects. This contract underlines our global reputation for delivering market-leading products with first-class logistics. We are delighted to secure this order and look forward to supporting this exciting development.”
Government and export support
UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle said, “Coming right after our landmark Steel Strategy, this success has been made possible thanks to UK Export Finance and demonstrates both the quality of steel produced in the UK and the strength of UK–Nigeria relations. This contract will reinforce British Steel’s world-class expertise while supporting jobs and growth in Scunthorpe.”
CEO of UK Export Finance Tim Reid described the agreement as a milestone for UK–Nigeria trade relations, stating, “It is one of the largest steel billet contracts in British Steel’s history and, under our new Memorandum of Understanding, we are providing over GBP 200 million in support to UK companies. This lays the foundation for a deeper and long-term relationship with Nigeria while opening new opportunities for British exporters across the region.”
Vision of Hitech Construction Africa Ltd
Vice Chairman Ronald Chagoury Jr. emphasized the need for critical modernization of the ports, stating, “The Tin Can Island and Lagos Apapa ports were built between the mid and late 1900s and require significant rehabilitation. Our goal is to increase port capacity, accommodate larger vessels and boost trade volumes. Through this project, Nigeria will become a regional leader in maritime logistics and unlock the potential of its trillion-dollar economy. Steel will play a central role in ensuring the durability and long-term performance of infrastructure at this scale.”
The Nigeria contract marks the second major export order secured by British Steel in the past two months. In February, the company received an order worth tens of millions of GBP for a high-speed electric railway project in Turkiye.
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