The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, has reiterated President Bola Tinubu's commitment to reviving the defunct Ajaokuta Steel Mill.
Audu made the statement during a visit to Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang in Jos on Wednesday.
The minister emphasised that the Ajaokuta steel mill, located in the Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi, was a massive project launched over the last 45 years to drive Nigeria's development.
However, he regretted that successive administrations had neglected the project.
”The Ajaokuta steel mill has existed for over four and half decades without receiving the desired attention by successive administrations.
”But this administration, under the Renewed Hope mantra of President Tinubu, has demonstrated the political will to revive the steel plant to promote development in the nation.
”He has asked us to do all that is necessary to ensure the steel mill is back to life and part of what we are doing is to use a collegiate approach.
”He has asked us to look for a concession partner that can take over the technical management of the mill.
“We are looking for one that has the expertise in terms of steel production so that the facility can start to produce once again,” he said.
Audu, on the other hand, stated that due to the enormous cost of reviving the entire plant, the government had decided to do so in stages.
”Based on technical analysis, it will cost us between two to five billion dollars to revive the Ajaokuta steel mill, hence we are using a piecemeal approach.
”So, we are going to, first, revive the light steel unit that can produce iron rods; we are at the final stage of signing a N35 billion funding from a local financial institution to commence work,” he said.
The minister also stated that he was in Jos to access facilities at the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), which is a key partner in the country's steel production process.
Mutfwang responded by thanking the minister for the visit, describing it as "timely," and praising President Tinubu for his commitment to reviving ailing sectors.
He emphasised the importance of steel in national development and stated that reviving the Ajaokuta steel mill would benefit the country greatly.
Mutfwang stated that the President's commitment to complete abandoned projects was consistent with his administration's vision of ensuring that Plateau's abandoned critical projects were completed.
The minister also paid visits to the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Gyang Buba, and Zuma Steel Rolling Mills, which were previously known as the Jos Steel Mills.
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