Nigeria’s Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has announced that the Federal Government is at an advanced stage in its efforts to revive the long-dormant **Ajaokuta Steel Plant** in Kogi State. The minister disclosed this development over the weekend while hosting stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his residence in Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State.
According to Audu, the federal government has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) of the steel plant. He also revealed that the government is actively engaging with Chinese investors to secure additional funding and technical support for the project, which is seen as a critical component of Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
“We are doing an amazing job. The journey has kicked off, and we will be able to turn Ajaokuta and deliver results hastily,” Audu stated. The Ajaokuta Steel Plant, once envisioned as the backbone of Nigeria’s industrialization drive, has faced decades of abandonment despite its massive potential. Initially designed to produce 1.3 million tonnes of liquid steel per annum in Phase One, the project was meant to be scaled up to 2.6 million tonnes and eventually 5.2 million tonnes** in future phases.
The facility includes more than just steel production. It houses a **110MW thermal power plant with two 55MW generators, as well as a lime production plant, alumino-silicate refractory plant, tar-bonded dolomite plant, and extensive water treatment, gas, and recirculation facilities. Audu emphasized that reviving the plant aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s bold economic reforms and commitment to rejuvenate Nigeria’s manufacturing base through steel development. He noted that the renewed push will not only bring the steel complex back to life but also catalyze job creation, infrastructure development, and industrial growth in the region and beyond.
This renewed focus comes on the heels of Nigeria’s broader effort to revive the steel industry, including recent milestones such as the groundbreaking of the \$400 million Ogun Stellar Steel Plant, further signaling a national commitment to reposition steel as a key pillar of economic growth.
Source : https://megaproject.com/
