The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, revealed on Monday that the Federal Government intends to commence the production of military hardware at the Ajaokuta Steel Mill. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the minister outlined plans to revive the steel plant, which has been inactive for many years, to not only produce iron rods but also military hardware.
Collaborating with counterparts from the Ministries of Defence and Works, Minister Audu expressed a commitment to the revitalization of the Ajaokuta Steel Mill. He stated, “Whether it is helmets, bullets, vests, pads for tanks, rifles, ammunitions, we will be able to have the capacity to do that.”
The Ajaokuta Steel Mill, a significant project initiated over 40 years ago, has faced mismanagement under successive administrations, preventing it from reaching its full potential. Minister Audu highlighted the current administration’s determination to revitalize the light steel mill section of the complex for iron rod production.
To achieve this, an estimated investment of two to five billion dollars is required to revamp the entire complex, with the light steel mill section costing about N35 billion. Minister Audu disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has given approval to raise funds locally for the revitalization, targeting N35 billion to boost the production capacity.
The proposed N35 billion investment is anticipated to facilitate the production of 50,000 tons of iron rods initially, with the potential to scale up to 400,000 tons. The minister’s announcement reflects a strategic move towards enhancing local production capabilities, not only for civilian needs but also for military applications, contributing to the nation’s economic and defense capacities.
