MINISTER OF STEEL DEVELOPMENT VISITS AFRICAN NATURAL RESOURCES AND MINES LIMITED, REINFORCING FG’S COMMITMENT TO REVIVING THE STEEL INDUSTRY ...Congratulates company on its $600 million investment in an Iron-Ore mining site to facilitate Steel production in Nigeria The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, on Thursday, September 6, 2024, visited the African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML), Gujeni Village, Kagarko LGA, Kaduna State reinforcing the commitment of the Federal Government to reviving the steel and metals sector in the country. Prince Audu commended the company on its huge investment in Nigeria and for operating in the Country since 1971, which has contributed to the economic development of the country, noting that ANRML will play a significant role in the ongoing steel sector revival efforts of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. He also lauded ANRML for the 900-hectare Iron-Ore mining facility where they invested about $600 million for backward integration to facilitate the production of steel. The Minister said that the vision of the current administration is to ensure that all comatose steel plants become operational and for Nigeria to begin steel production before the end of the tenure of President Tinubu, reiterating his commitments to delivery of the vision of Mr. President. “It is very clear that this edifice exemplifies the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose plan is to grow the economy to over $1 trillion by 2030. Steel is the catalyst for industrialisation, and I commend the Africa Industries Group (AIG) for their important role in taking Nigeria to the next level. “I am pleasantly surprised you have been doing business since 1971. I appreciate the Group for believing in the country and creating thousands of jobs, employing in excess of 10,000 staff across the country. “I am urging the company to invest more to meet our local demand for steel. 10 million metric tonnes are being imported into the country, so this company has a role to play in reversing that trend. “The President is very serious about turning around the steel industry, including the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe. We have plans to build an industrial park in Ajaokuta that will house a Free Trade Zone and CNG park. “We need more huge foreign direct investments to reduce pressures on FX and to help us create 80 million jobs in the country under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. So, thank you for making such a huge investment in Nigeria,” Prince Audu said. The Group Managing Director of Africa Industries Group, Alok Gupta, thanked the Honourable Minister for his visit, which shows his support to indigenous companies operating in Nigeria, expressing confidence in the revival of the steel and metals sector under the leadership of the Honourable Minister. Mr. Gupta said that the factory is a testament that local validation shows the possibilities of the country. “I thank you for your pledge to support indigenous companies in Nigeria. We are confident we will see a revival in the Nigerian steel industry. We stand by your commitment to the production of high quality steel in the country,” Gupta said.

MINISTER OF STEEL DEVELOPMENT, PRINCE SHUAIBU ABUBAKAR AUDU, PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO GOV. SIMINALAYI FUBARA IN PORT HARCOURT …Attends Night of Tribute for mother of Mr. Atedo Nari Atowari Peterside The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, at the Rivers State Government House, Port Hacourt on Thursday, August 22, 2024, while on a visit to the state. Prince Audu, who was in Port Harcourt to attend the burial ceremony of the late Princess Patricia Gboloba Awune Peterside (nee Bob-Manuel), mother of Mr. Atedo Peterside CON, Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, thanked the Governor for the hospitality accorded to him and his team. The Honourable Minister lauded Gov. Fubara for the infrastructural as well as other developmental projects he has carried out in the state within one year and his support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in transforming Nigeria. Attending the night of tribute of the late Princess Patricia Peterside, the Honourable Minister commiserated with the entire Peterside family over the loss of their matriarch, urging them to take solace in the fact that she lived a long and fulfilled life and bearing children that have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria both in private and public service. Prince Audu, in his tribute, said that although he never met the late Princess Peterside before her passing, he was aware of her diligence and dedication to duty, a trait she instilled in her son, Mr. Atedo Peterside, who played a significant role in his life as his first employer and mentor at Investment Banking & Trust Company Limited (later Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC). The Honourable Minister added that working under Mr. Peterside gave him the opportunity to benefit from all the virtues the late Matriarch instilled in his boss, which have been very helpful in enabling him deliver on his mandate as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through professionalism, corporate governance and attention to detail amongst others. Prince Audu prayed for God Almighty to grant the deceased eternal rest and paradise. In attendance at the event were: His Majesty, Dr. Disraeli Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Paramount Ruler of Abonnema Kingdom, Rivers State; Mr. Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Tonye Cole, Co-Founder and former Group Executive of Sahara Energy and 2023 Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Candidate; Mrs. Sola David-Borha, former CEO, Standard Bank Africa and Stanbic IBTC Holdings; Mr. Yinka Sanni, CEO, Standard Bank Africa as well as the Peterside family. Others were Justice Funmilayo Atilade, former Chief Judge of Lagos State, among many other dignitaries.

MINISTER OF STEEL DEVELOPMENT MEETS CHIEF EXECUTIVE, PRESIDENTIAL CNG INITIATIVE ...Discuss operational modalities of setting up a CNG Park within the prospective Ajaokuta Industrial Park The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu met with Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, Program Director/Chief Executive Officer, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI) in Abuja on Wednesday to discuss setting up a CNG park within the Ajaokuta Industrial Park. Prince Audu reemphasised the fact that one of the paramount objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, under the 'Renewed Hope Agenda’ is the CNG Initiative, which is very critical following the removal of petroleum subsidies, and would reduce transportation costs by at least 40 percent. The Honourable Minister said that the Ministry of Steel Development is collaborating with the P-CNGI to set up a CNG park within the proposed Industrial Park in Ajaokuta which is underway, to drive the CNG initiatives of Mr. President. “Mr. President has given a mandate that he wants a minimum of one million CNG vehicles on the road by 2027. So, there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and everything that we need to partner with the federal government under the CNG initiative are available in Ajaokuta. “One of the things we are also doing is the industrial park in Ajaokuta, where various categories of companies will be under the industrial park within Ajaokuta. So, the CNG park will be one of the many components of the soon-to-be Ajaokuta Industrial Park. “Everything to actualize the CNG initiative and conversions are available in Ajaokuta, and so plugging in the CNG initiative is very viable; there is gas there, an engineering workshop is there, and a tools workshop to facilitate the construction or assemblies of the kits is also there. “Mr. President is indeed very excited about this initiative and the partnership between the Ministry and the P-CNGI, which drives the plans of industrialising Nigeria, diversifying and growing the economy, and creating jobs under the renewed initiatives,” Prince Audu said. The Honourable Minister of Steel Development commended Engr. Olugbemi for the excellent job he is doing in actualizing the CNG initiative of Mr. President. Mr. Olugbemi said that the Steel Industry is an absolute necessity for the actualization of the CNG initiative, adding that steel components are at the very heart of the project. Olugbemi said that establishing the CNG park in Ajoakuta will be an evolution from importing some of the components to manufacturing them. This, he further explained, will address some of the challenges with transporting the CNG components into the country. “The journey with the Ministry of Steel Development was critical from day one, and Ajaokuta is a hub with access to raw materials. We have hit the ground running already and are optimistic about excellent collaborations with the Ministry,” Olugbemi said. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu lauded the initiative commending the partnership between the Ministry and P-CNGI, pledging the support of the Ministry and its team. Engr. Sumaila Abdul- Akaba, Sole Administrator, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited said that the project was a welcome development to Ajaokuta especially in the revival phase of the company. He assured P-CNGI of the cooperation of the steel company In bringing to fruition the realization of the project.