Nigeria’s Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, has said the Federal Government is in talks with a Chinese firm, Luan Steel Holding Group, to build a new steel plant in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, that will also produce military hardware.
Audu disclosed this when he led a delegation, which included the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, and the Permanent Secretary of the Steel Ministry, Dr. Mary Ogbe, to the Luan Steel Holding Group in Hefei and Guangzhou regions of China.
According to a statement, discussions with the Chairman of Luan Steel Wang Jianbing, and the CEO, Xiao Weizhan, among other senior executives indicated the Group’s keen interest to establish a new steel plant and in the production of military hardware at the complex.
The Minister was quoted as saying that the move is aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s steel industry, to attract foreign direct investments, foster economic growth and generate thousands of job opportunities in line with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.
Reiterating the timeliness of producing military hardware at the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, given Nigeria’s current security challenges, he expressed confidence that this would significantly boost the government’s efforts in addressing insecurity and terrorism in the country.
He said: “With all the commitments on the ground, we are confident that before the end of President Tinubu’s administration, we will commence commercial steel production in some of the government-owned entities in Nigeria.”
…given Nigeria’s current security challenges, this would significantly boost the government’s efforts in addressing insecurity and terrorism in the country.
