By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu who led a Nigerian delegation to Moscow, Russia on a working visit, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the original builders of Ajaokuta Steel Plant Messrs, Tyazhpromexport (TPE) and members of their consortium namely; Novostal M and Proforce Manufacturing Limited for the Rehabilitation, Completion and Operation of Ajaokuta Steel Plant (ASP) and National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in Kogi State, Nigeria.
The call was accepted by the Russian Federation when a consortium led by Messrs, TPE visited the Steel Plant in Ajaokuta and the Iron Ore Mining site at Itakpe in August, 2024 for preliminary inspections leading to the invitation for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
A statement by the Head of Press & Public Relations Department, Salamatu F. Jibaniya on Friday said that Prince Shuaibu who is driving Mr. President’s mandate for the revitalization, completion and operation of Ajaokuta Steel Plant (ASP) and National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) said this is a bold step towards creating a sustainable base for the industrialization of the Nigeria economy.
He noted that the revival of the steel sector will also reduce importation of steel products into Nigeria which is estimated at over $4billion annually and help save scarce foreign exchange.
During the visit, the Nigerian delegation met with the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Mr. Alexey V. Gruzdev and the consortium led by TPE assured the Nigerian Delegation of the readiness of the Consortium to meet the expectations of the MoU with the Nigerian Government.
The Nigerian delegation led by the Nigeria Minister of Steel also inspected the facilities of Messrs. Novostal M located in Balakovo in the Saratov region.
The Plant which was in full operation during the visit has an Electric Arc Furnace capacity of 1.2Million metric tonnes of Steel products per annum with a staff strength of 3,900 workers.
The team also inspected the private port facility of the Company where they received different raw materials for their operations.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu in his remark affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Government to revamp the Ajaokuta Steel Project and National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe.
The President of Metallurgical Holding, “Novostal – M” Demchenko Ivan Ivanovich assured the delegation of their readiness to submit a detailed proposal for the project after the comprehensive audit of the Plant.
The General Director of Messrs. TPE, Mr. Egorov Sergei Anatolevich and the Group Managing Director of Proforce Manufacturing Limited, Mr. Adetokunbo Ogundeyin assured the Nigerian delegation of their commitment to the project because of its critical role in the overall economic development of Nigeria and requested for the provision of an enabling environment by the Nigerian Government.
The parties expressed their optimism that the full implementation of the MoU will facilitate the revival of both Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and NIOMCO and could create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians thus increase the size of the economy by billions of dollars thus contributing immensely to President Tinubu’s desire to grow the economy to over $1trillion by 2030.
The Minister of Steel Development was accompanied on this important trip by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, the Sole Administrator of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Engr. Sumaila Abdul-Akaba, the Acting Sole Administrator of National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, Engr. Loto Festus Isinmidun, the Acting Director of Steel & Non-Ferrous Metals department of the Ministry, Mr. Umar Adamu Tsoho and his Technical Adviser, Mr. Anekwe Patrick Chinwuba.
