Nigerian Steel Development Ministry Partners With Stakeholders To Achieve Mandate

The Nigerian Ministry of Steel Development, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu’s Administration, is collaborating with development partners to achieve it mandate.

The Minister of State of Steel Development Mr. Uba Ahmadu said that he is working towards achieving the Ministry’s mandate of ensuring that the nation’s Steel Sector contribute to the sustainable development of the economy and grow the Gross Domestic Product, (GDP).

He said the “Ministry of Steel Development is to collaborate with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission for the development of the sector in general and the Revitalization and Operationalization of the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) Kaduna and the National Metallurgical Institute, Onitsha.”

The Minister made the statement when he received the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Aisha Rimi in the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.

He enumerated the areas of collaboration wich include Organizing local and international investment fora for relevant stakeholders to showcase the full potentials of the NMTI with the view of attracting investments and funding for modernizing and upgrading the institute’s facilities.”

Other Areas include “curriculum, and training programs to meet industry international best standards and demand; Develop Policy Reforms and incentives that would be inclusive but not limited to legal, governance, finance tax incentives”.

Mr Ahmadu further said that “regulatory reforms that would reposition the institute to contribute more meaningfully to national manpower and infrastructure development.” are parts of the areas of collaboration.

The Minister listed more areas of collaboration to include: Identifying local and international multilateral, multinational, Institutional and venture capitalists who can inject technical and financial capital into revitalizing the institute and position it as a center of excellence for metallurgical training and skills development.

He also added that “Establishing a Public Private Partnership, PPP, framework for the revival of NMTI that would involve engaging with private sector stakeholders, such as steel companies, mining firms, and educational institutions, to form partnerships aimed at modernizing the institute and aligning its training programs with industry” will be done.

Stated that partnership with NIPC for NSRMEA is to Accelerate Investment interest from both Local and International Investments in Exploration Projects, with special interest in steel raw materials such as Iron ore, Manganese, Coal, Refractory, Limestone, through establishing partnerships with mining companies and exploration firms.

“Organizing targeted investor outreach programmes to engage potential investors interested in supporting the exploration and development of steel raw materials as well as Advocating for Policy Reforms and incentives to encourage private sector investment in raw materials exploration.” He noted.

Additionally, the Minister disclosed that, “Niger Extraction Company Ltd, a Nigerian Company registered to undertake mining and steel development has sent in a proposal for the establishment of a $300m Steel Plant in Niger State, a development which according to him, indicates that the Steel Sector is set to take off and deliver on its mandate.”

Maigari Ahmadu expressed the Ministry’s willingness to leverage on the expertise and networks of NIPC, noting that the collaborative efforts of both Organisations would help attract private sector investment, modernize exploration techniques, and enhance the capacity of NMTI and NSRMEA to fulfill their mandates.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development in Nigeria and Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe, expressed optimism that “the collaboration between the Ministry of Steel Development and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission is a step in the right direction”.

Mrs. Ogbe further reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensure the goals set during the deliberations are achieved. She added that it was time the Steel Sector brought the needed prosperity to the people of Nigeria.

She proposed the establishment of a “Technical Working Group, (TWG), with members drawn from the Ministry of Steel Development and NIPC, with the sector specific experts who will develop a framework that will enhance the development of the sector on a general scale and the National Metallurgical Institute, Onitsha and National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) Kaduna”.

In her remarks, the Executive Secretary/CEO of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Aisha Rimi stated that the Commission’s mandate is to provide assistance to investors seeking to enter the country and those that are already in the country.

She disclosed that “NIPC has extensive and robust Departments that assist in carrying out adequate care and after care for investment and investors.”

Rimi assured of the Commission’s commitment to ensure all assistance is given to the Steel Sector to promote direct foreign investment into the country.

Olusola Akintonde