By Jacinta Hycenth, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Steel Development on Thursday said that a comprehensive technical and financial audit of Ajaokuta Steel Plant is presently underway to ensure that any decision taken is transparent, data-driven and in the best interest of Nigeria.
The ministry disclosed this in a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations Department, Salamatu Jibaniya, following a recent comment by Aliko Dangote, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, that the steel company will never work.
“There is no nation that you can build without a steel industry and honestly within us here, Ajaokuta will not work. We can keep deceiving ourselves and keep being passionate about it, but it’s not possible.
“It like you now, if you remember those vehicles we used to produce from Volkswagen (Igala) if you bring Igala now, would you now compare it to the current Kia. No, things have changed.
“Things have changed and all of us have to keep changing or you will become archaic. You have to change, now, when you carry something like Ajaokuta is like you going to the grave yard to bring a dead person or you go to the hospital to bring somebody who is on the dying bed to come and run 100 metres. It’s totally impossible,” said Dangote.
However, the Ministry reaffirmed its determination to build a competitive and modern steel industry that supports national industrialization and infrastructure growth.
The statement read: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Steel Development has been drawn to recent media reports regarding the future of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL).
“While we note the concerns expressed, it is important to state that the Federal Government remains firmly committed to the development of Nigeria’s steel sector, including the resuscitation of ASCL.”
It further disclosed that the overall assessment of the previous technical audit report dated 2018 maintained that the general status of the Steel Plant is in robust condition except for normal deterioration of replaceable parts and recommended automation of manual control systems for improved efficiency.
The ministry noted that it remains confident that the updated audit will provide a sound basis for decisive action that advances Nigeria’s industrial aspirations.
