Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, on Friday, said that the Ajaokuta steel complex has the capacity and potential to deliver high quality steels.
Prince Audu, stated this in Abuja, while receiving a delegation of the People Expertise and Excellence Foundation (PEEF) on a courtesy visit.
He said the ministry would require about $3-5bn to revitalize the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and get it to work optimally, in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Audu, in a statement by the ministry Information Officer, Tine-Iulun Maureen, said: “The Ajaokuta Steel Complex have the capacity and potential to deliver high quality steel needed for the industrialization of the country, the Ministry is working on a 3-year Road Map for the revitalization of Ajaokuta Steel Plant and a 5-year Road Map to revive the Steel Sector generally.”
He noted that the Ministry has sought financing to re-start the Light Steel Mill in Ajaokuta for the production of iron rods to stop the importation of iron rod and help shore up foreign exchange for the country.
The Honourable Minister enjoined all stakeholders to rise up to the challenge of making the Nigerian Steel Sector work, as it has capacity to industrialise the nation, grow the economy, reduce unemployment and grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development/Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary A Ogbe, thanked the Foundation for offering to give professional and genuine advice to the Ministry, and assured of the Ministry’s commitment to ensure it leaves a tangible mark in the Steel Sector.
Earlier, the Acting Chairman BOT, the People Expertise and Excellence Foundation (PEEF) Alh. Mashood Yusuf, seeks to develop and design impact techniques for enhanced productive work in Nigeria towards improving the Gross Domestic Product as well as support skills development initiatives for the workforce in Nigeria and Africa, among others.
He stated that PEEF believed that steel production is the key to industrialization, adding that all the nation’s efforts at infrastructural development needs will demand huge quantities of steel, which can be met locally if the Steel Sector is developed, noting that Nigeria has the resources to develop production by restoring existing steel plants.
