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Mandates of agencies in Nigeria's steel sector are to be
streamlined for effective and efficient service delivery.
Two Federal Government agencies in the Ministry of
Mines and Steel Development whose mandates are to be
streamlined are : the National Steel Raw Materials
Exploration Agency, Kaduna , in Kaduna State and the
National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos, in
Plateau State.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc.
Musa Mohammed Sada made the disclosure in Abuja
during a working visit by the President and members
of the Council of Nigerian Metallurgical Society. The
delegation was led by the Council’s National
President, Dr. Linus Asuquo.
Arc. Sada explained that when the streamlining was
completed there would not be overlapping of functions
in the two agencies and resources would be better
utilised.
The Minister added that procurement issues on
related equipment would be processed seamlessly in
the two agencies.
The Minister said that the Federal Government was
not happy over the issue of the Inland Steel
Rolling Mills that were privatised or sold that were
not operating. He said it was not proper to
acquire a company from government without operating
it.
In order to address the challenges militating
against the functional operations of the affected
Inland Steel Rolling Mills such as the Jos Steel
Rolling Mill, now Zuma Steel West Africa Limited and
the Oshogbo Steel Rolling Mill, now Kura Integrated
Steel Mill Limited, the Minister assured that the
Ministry would liaise with the Bureau for Public
Enterprises and the management of the companies
concerned.
Arc. Sada informed the Council that Federal
Government was reoperationalising Ajaokuta Steel
Company Limited and the National Iron- Ore Mining
Company, Itakpe.
The Minister also assured that he would liaise
with the Minister of Petroleum Resources to handle
the issue of regular and adequate supply of Gas to
facilitate the operations of stakeholders in the
Steel sector.
He commended the Council for the visit and it’s
suggestions for the development of Nigeria’s Steel
sector.
He assured the Council of the Ministry’s readiness
for partnership towards the development of the Steel
sector.
Speaking earlier, the National President of the
Council of Nigerian Metallurgical Society, Dr. Linus
Asuquo said that the essence of the visit is to
indicate the Council’s preparedness to partner with
the Ministry for the development of Nigeria’s Steel
sector and to congratulate the Minister on his
appointment.
Some of the suggestions proferred by the Council
for the development of Nigeria’s Steel sector were
that :
Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited should be fully
completed, commissioned and operated to full capacity
for the realisation of Vision 20-2020.
The Itakpe Iron-Ore mine should be dedicated as a
captive mine for the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, with
the proviso that excess production be sold to other
plants.
In view of the fact that the present owners of
the Delta Steel Company Limited, Aladja, Delta State
have degraded the integrated steel plant to a scrap
processing plant, the Federal Government should
reappraise the existing agreement with a view to
actualising the initial concept for which the plant
established.
In the case of the Rolling Mills, the Oshogbo Mill
should be repossessed and revitalised by the Federal
Government for a meaningful subsequent privatisation.
The Federal Government should show interest in the
Jos Mill and resolve the pending litigation issue
for the rightful owner and take control of the
plant.
The owners of the Katsina Mill should be supported
and encouraged. |
