The minister of state for steel development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, has been commended for transforming Nigeria’s metallurgical and steel sectors.
The coordinating special adviser to the minister, Abubakar Yerima, who stated this in press statement said Ahmadu has orchestrated a series of transformative initiatives aimed at driving economic growth, job creation, and poverty eradication.
He said under his visionary leadership, the sector has witnessed the revival of the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) in Kaduna, positioning it as a geo-scientific information center for investors and researchers in the solid minerals sector.
“This strategic move has not only enhanced the agency’s capabilities but has also created an enabling environment for the exploration and development of Nigeria’s rich mineral resources, further reinforcing the nation’s position as an attractive destination for investment in the sector.
“Crucially, these achievements have been made possible through the collective efforts of a well-trained, dedicated, and motivated workforce that is technologically driven and focused.
“Honourable Minister Uba Maigari Ahmadu’s emphasis on capacity building and the adoption of modern exploration techniques has been instrumental in positioning Nigeria as a hub for cutting-edge research and development in the metallurgical and steel sectors, thereby attracting significant interest from domestic and international stakeholders.”
Yerima also said the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Steel Development and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) have culminated in the facilitation of a groundbreaking $300 million investment in the steel sector by Niger Extraction Company Ltd.
“This substantial investment not only underscores the confidence of the private sector in Nigeria’s steel industry but also heralds a new era of growth, innovation, and technological advancement in the sector.”
He further noted that Ahmadu’s multilayered policy approach inclusive of establishing a technical working relationship with the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology for the promotion of its welding policy and support for the Technology Innovation Centres across the country, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), and others are being rejigged and repositioned to carry out their core functions of providing high-quality training, promote research and development.
According to him, his proactive engagement with various stakeholders, both domestically and internationally, has been pivotal in promoting the steel sector and attracting much-needed foreign direct investment (FDI) to Nigeria.
“Through targeted outreach programmes, industry roundtables, and investor forums, the Minister is effectively positioning Nigeria as a prime investment destination, fostering partnerships that are poised to drive sustainable economic development and prosperity in the country.
“In furtherance to above, the Minister is working on the optimisation of revenues from the metals sector. This is as the contribution of this sector to the GDP has been very low due to low capacity utilization, under reporting of the contributions from the sector, as well as dumping of imported sub-standard metal products amongst other factors.
“A mechanism is being established to sensitize the MSMEs in the sector on proper reporting of their contributions. The Honourable Minister has scheduled a nationwide facility inspection to establish and address the root causes of low capacity utilization,” he added.
