The Minister of Steel Development,
Shuaibu Audu, has stated that reviving the Ajaokuta steel mill will cost
something in the range of $2 billion to $5 billion.
The Minister stated this during
his visit to the Governor of Plateau state, as part of visit to the National
Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC).
According to the Minister, the
huge sum required to revive the company was responsible for the government’s
piecemeal approach towards getting the plant to work.
- He stated, “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.
- “Therefore, 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.
- “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.”
The minister stated his visit
to Jos was to evaluate the infrastructure at the National Metallurgical
Development Centre (NMDC), highlighting its crucial role in advancing the
country’s steel manufacturing initiatives and also visit the Jos rolling mill.
In response, Mutfwang expressed
gratitude for the minister’s visit, praising its opportune timing and lauding
President Tinubu’s dedication to rejuvenating the nation’s struggling sectors.
He emphasized the critical role of steel in national development, asserting
that reviving the Ajaokuta steel mill would significantly benefit the country.
Backstory
Last month, Nairametrics reported
that the federal government plan to raise N35 billion through local financing
for the Ajaokuta Steel mill in a move to get the mill working as fast as
possible.
The Ajaokuta steel mill is a
multi-billion dollar integrated steel plant established in the late 1970s and
early 1980s but has faced series of administrative setbacks negating its
operations.