MINISTRY OF STEEL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTED TO DELIVER ON MANDATE- MINISTER The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu has assured Nigerians of the Ministry’s commitment to deliver on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Key Priority of growing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country for sustainable economic and infrastructural greatness through the Steel Sector. The Minister gave this assurance while delivering his keynote address at the 2-Day Ministerial Management Retreat Organised by the Ministry to chart a course for achieving its Presidential Priorities held on Thursday 21st- Friday, 22nd of March, 2024 in Abuja. According to him, the reviewed Presidential 8-Key Priorities has the Steel Sector as focal point for driving the economic development of the country. “A critical evaluation of the eight (8) Point Agenda suggests the critical place of the Steel sector in the realization of these goals especially in the areas of industrialization, manufacturing and unlocking the natural resources potentials of the country”. Speaking further, Prince Audu, while giving an overview of the steel industry from conceptualization in 1958, stated that despite the ugly history of Steel Development in Nigeria in the past four decades, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has shown willingness to address the protracted challenges facing the industry. According to him, the creation of Ministry of Steel will give direct focus to the sector for it to become the bedrock of industrialization of the Nigeria economy. In his remarks, the Minister of State of the Ministry, His Excellency, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, stated that the Retreat will afford the Management Staff the opportunity to dissect each of the eight key priorities of the administration and explore ways to translate them into actionable strategies for the Ministry. He noted that the retreat will offer the valuable opportunity to: Deeply understand how each of the eight priorities intersects with the steel industry; Develop a comprehensive Roadmap that will align to the Ministry’s strategies with the Eight Presidential Priority areas; Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure progress and ensure accountability; Formulate Actionable Plans with realistic timelines and resource allocation for each priority area; Foster collaboration between the Ministry, the National Assembly, and stakeholders across the industry, among others. He urged members to actively participate, share insights, and engage in constructive dialogue, open discussions, brainstorming sessions, adding that participants should use the opportunity to make a tangible difference for the steel industry and for the nation. Delivering her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development/Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary A Ogbe, stated that the theme of the retreat, “Delivering on the Eight Presidential Priorities,” aligns perfectly with the Ministry’s goal of ensuring the optimal utilization of the country’s steel resources for the overall benefit of the nation and its citizens. She implores participants to actively engage in the deliberations and contribute constructively towards charting a path forward for the steel industry that will propel the nation towards a brighter and more prosperous future. Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Steel Development, Sen. Patrick Ndubueze, reiterated the importance of the Ministerial Management Retreat as it offers an avenue for stakeholders to brainstorm, propose as well as propound ways to move the sector forward and harness the benefits for economic development of the country. Earlier, in his goodwill message, Chairman, House Committee on Steel Development, Dr. Zainab Gimbal, represented by the Deputy Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Umar Datti, stated that the House Committee attaches great significance to the development of the steel sector, as it would provide about five thousand (5000) direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians when optimally developed.  

FG TO COMMENCE PRODUCTION OF MILITARY HARDWARES IN AJAOKUTA AS STEEL, DEFENCE MINISTRIES SET TO SIGN MOU The Federal Government has taken steps to begin the production of military hardwares in the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, as the Ministries of Steel Development and Defence are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation. The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, and the Minister of State, Defence, His Excellency Dr. Bello Matawalle disclosed this after a meeting on Wednesday, at the Ministry of Defence, Abuja. According to Prince Audu, the collaborations between both Ministries under his leadership and the Ministers of Defence will bring to fruition the vision of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR geared at reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Complex for steel production for several purposes, including military hardwares. The Minister of Steel Development said that the Ajaokuta Steel complex has various engineering workshops with the capacity to produce hardwares for the military under the Defence Industries Cooperation of Nigeria (DICON) Act. “Today is a day that we have all waited for under the renewed hope agenda with the coming to fruition of a partnership between both ministries, the Ministry of Steel Development and the Ministry of Defence. “There are a number of things we have agreed on, including signing an MoU so that DICON and Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited can partner to produce military hardwares such as rifles, vests, helmets, and bullets, among other things, in the Ajaokuta Steel Complex. “Ajaokuta has the facility to also accommodate a military barracks. There are over 10,000 housing units in Ajaoukuta, of which only 3,000 to 4,000 are occupied. “We will put together a quality Memorandum of Understanding that will be well implemented, and we are confident of the outcomes," Audu said. In his remarks, the Minister of State, Defence, said that all that has been agreed upon for the production of military hardwares and a Military Industrial Complex in Ajaokuta was in line with the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President. Metawalle further assured Nigerians of the soon-to-be take-off of the Ajaokuta steel complex in maximum capacity, as he encouraged local partners to come on board. Metawalle said that “today, we have agreed on so many things, including the review of the MoU signed in 2020 between DICON and the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), which would now be between both ministries (government to government). “Both Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries will come up with a draft agreement, and we will have continuous and regular meetings so that great ideas can be put together in the agreement.". The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Steel Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe, lauded both ministers for their commitments towards the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex. Ogbe also assured the ministers of their support as civil servants to their political will. “If we have a common goal, we can achieve it. Nothing will make Nigerians happier than to see Ajaokuta come to light again. On a similar note, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana described the meeting as a landmark achievement which would bring forth monumental development to the steel industry and Defence architecture of the country. Kana said that all hands would be on deck to actualize the agreement for the eventual production of military hardwares in Ajaokuta steel complex, and the establishment of a military industrial complex in Ajaokuta.

FG GEARED TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN STEEL SECTOR The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu has reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to improve the country’s economy and grow the Gross Domestic Product through the Steel Sector, by ensuring it establish a sustainable research system for the development of the sector. Prince Audu who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary A Ogbe made this known during his Working Visit to the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), Jos, Plateau State between Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th February, 2024. The Minister while emphasizing the need for research in the steel industry, noted that the Sector can only be kept in position to serve its manifold purposes through determined searching and probing that would lead to discovery and improvement products and services in the steel sector. He disclosed that: “The National Metallurgical Development Centre is not just a historical asset, it is a strategic research engine for the nation’s steel industry. This is because no nation can really develop without the development of its steel industry, and pivotal to the development of the steel industry is Research”. Also, he disclosed that the Centre’s mandate to offer research and development inputs necessary for the development of the mining, minerals and allied sectors, with specific focus on the steel industry in Nigeria is very strategic, noting that the center is the only one of its kind in the West African sub-region with integrated facilities to carry out mineral evaluation, metallurgical processes, adaption and improvement, mineral and metal testing and environmental pollution studies. He added that the center has the capacity to proactively support the growth of the nation’s economy by developing local capacities along the mineral value chain activities, given the right impetus. Speaking further, Prince Audu revealed that the Research & Development of NMDC activities will be geared towards the domestication of Research findings into productive Small and Medium Scale ventures, as according to him, SMEs are the micro drivers of the economy, noting that going forward, the Centre shall undertake targeted research projects that aims to solve existing industry needs, so as to enable us utilize locally, the various metallurgical raw materials that Nigeria is endowed with. He tasked members and staff of the Centre to work together to reposition the Steel and other Metals Sector to attain its pride of place as the bedrock of industrialization and implored them to renew their commitment, drive, focus, and dedication towards supporting the Ministry to actualize its mandates. In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary A. Ogbe enjoined the staff to be disciplined and adhere to rules in the discharge of their duties and ensure they work as a team to promote the National Metallurgical Development Centre for optimal productivity. Earlier, the Director General of the National Metallurgical Development Centre Prof. Linus Asuquo, reiterating that without research Steel can not roll, noting that the Research Centre is a unique Agency in the Steel and Metals Sector that its activities are crucial in value addition and development processes in the entire Steel processing chain, from exploration to extraction and to fabrication. Prof. Asuquo while reeling out the numerous achievements of the Centre as well as some of its challenges, expressed optimism that with the leadership of the Ministers and Permanent Secretary, the NMDC would become a Centre of Excellence in Minerals and Metals Research that will be at par with other Steel Research Centres in the world. In a related development, the Honourable Minister during a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Caleb Mutfwang stated that the purpose for the visit to the State was to get an on-the-spot assessment of the National Metallurgical Development Centre in order to ascertain its challenges and opportunities and proper possible solutions that will ensure that the research Centre operate at full capacity as well as seek collaboration with the Plateau State Government in reviving the Jos Steel Rolling Mill now known as the Zuma Steel Rolling Mill in the State. He added that the Ministry is committed towards fulfilling its mandate of revitalising the Steel Sector for the benefit of Nigerians. In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Caleb Mutftwang assured of the State willingness to synergise with the Federal Government in reviving the Steel Sector for the growth of the economy. He stated that the State would directly benefit from the revival of the Steel Sector as according to him, the Jos Steel Rolling Mill when in full operation will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for the teeming Jos citizens. The Honourable Minister during the working visit to Jos, Plateau State, also paid a courtesy visit to the Gbong Gworm Jos as well as had a facility tour of the Zuma Steel Rolling Mill.