By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s metallurgical and industrial sectors have renewed calls for the Federal Government to prioritize raw material supply and infrastructure development as part of efforts to revive the long-dormant Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State.
This was the key takeaway from the 40th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS), in collaboration with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), which commenced on Thursday, October 30, at the auditorium of the RMRDC headquarters in Abuja.
The three-day conference, attended by industry experts, policymakers, and academics, focused on strategies to unlock Nigeria’s vast mineral potential and reposition the steel industry as the backbone of national industrialization.
A highlight of the opening session was a lead paper presentation by Professor Benjamin Omoluyi Adewuyi of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. His paper, titled “Strategic Planning to Unlock Nigeria’s Mineral Resources Through Exploration, Extraction, and Value Addition,” was hailed by participants as a roadmap for achieving the full operationalization of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.
Professor Adewuyi underscored the need for the government to adopt a long-term strategic framework spanning at least 15 to 20 years to systematically develop the steel sector. According to him, the revival of Ajaokuta hinges on three critical factors, consistent raw material supply, robust transport infrastructure, and investor confidence.
“To sustain production and achieve a minimum output of 10 million tonnes of liquid steel annually, Ajaokuta must secure at least 7.5 million tonnes of raw materials through reliable supply channels,” he said. “This will only be possible with an efficient road and transport network connecting the hinterlands to the complex.”
He warned that without adequate road networks and logistics support, attracting and retaining serious investors would remain an uphill task. The paper further stressed the importance of ensuring a steady flow of coking coal and other critical inputs to keep the furnaces running continuously.
Participants at the conference resolved that the NMS, in collaboration with the RMRDC, would develop credible data on Nigeria’s raw material deposits to guide the Federal Government’s interventions. Such data, they said, must also ensure that the needs of the steel industry do not conflict with those of other sectors, such as cement production.
The Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS) also agreed to draft a national strategic plan outlining clear stages of development and expansion for the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and other steel facilities nationwide. The plan, they emphasized, would include measurable milestones to track progress over the coming decades.
The consensus among participants was clear: with proper planning, infrastructure, and political will, Ajaokuta Steel can finally awaken from decades of dormancy to become the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial revolution.
The NMS 40th Annual Conference and General Meeting was tagged “Abuja Hybrid 2025: Unlocking Nigeria’s Mineral Resources, Exploration, Extraction, and Value Addition.”