The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has announced plans by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to breathe new life into the Ajaokuta Steel Company. The objective is to gear its operations towards the local production of military hardware, aiming to bolster the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.
Receiving the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, and the Managing Director of Ajaokuta Steel Company, Sumaila Abdul Akaba, in his Abuja office, Badaru underscored the importance of Ajaokuta Steel Company’s historical role in the local production of military hardware. He expressed the need to collaborate with the Ministry of Steel Development, noting that steel accounts for 90% of the materials required for the production of military hardware.
“Strengthening Ajaokuta Steel Company’s capacity to produce military hardware domestically, as opposed to relying on foreign imports, will significantly enhance our nation’s efforts in combating insurgency and related crimes,” Badaru emphasized.
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Badaru directed the formation of a Technical Committee to drive the company’s revitalization agenda. The committee’s mandate includes determining production specifications, identifying raw materials, assessing the cost of reactivating the production center, and exploring funding sources.
Badaru charged the Permanent Secretary, Director-General of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), and the Managing Director of Ajaokuta Steel Company to approach this task with determination, with a two-week deadline set for the submission of their forward-looking report.
Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, the Minister of Steel Development, echoed the transformative potential of reviving Ajaokuta Steel. He acknowledged that financial constraints had stalled production, but expressed optimism in the implementation of strategic initiatives, projecting a revival and resumption of operations within the first four years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The initiative to revitalize Ajaokuta Steel Company for military hardware production holds promise for bolstering Nigeria’s industrial sector and overall economy, given the strategic implications of such a move.
