L-R: The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu; Executive Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq and CEO of KAM Holding Ltd, Dr. Kamoru Yusuf during the Minister’s Working visit to Kwara State on Tuesday, 7th May, 2024.
By Victoria Onehi
In a bid to revitalise the nations’ Steel sector to meet both local and international market, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu has visited the KAM Holding Ltd, a steel company in Kwara state.
The Minister who is on a two-days working tour disclosed that the Ministry under his watch will make the Steel sector in Nigeria work.
During his courtesy visit to Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, in Ilorin, on Tuesday 7th May 2024, Audu noted that the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the Present Administration is committed to ensuring that the nation’s steel sector begin to work and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation.
In a statement, the Minister expressed the Ministrys’ willingness to support indigenous Steel companies across the country to produce optimally to meet both local and international consumption.
He said: “we are here to show support to indigenous Steel companies that can help provide millions of jobs to Nigerians. The Steel Sector when properly harnessed, can provide large scale jobs for the people and industrialise the country”.
He further noted that aside from wooing foreign investors, the Ministry is committed to helping the indigenous companies grow to meet international best standards, adding that it was time we ensured that “Nigeria is working for Nigerians”.
In his remarks, the Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, noted that the Ministers’ visit shows his commitment towards attaining the mandate of the Ministry. He noted that the visit will afford the Minister opportunity to get the true facts in moving the sector forward.
The Governor entreated the Ministry to consider KAM Holding Ltd if it needs the input of an indigenous steel company to partner on the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company. He added that making Ajaokuta Steel company work is the albatross that would untie industrialisation of the country. He said: “without getting the Steel Sector right, Nigeria cannot be industralised”.
In her welcome address, the Vice Chairman, Kam Holding Ltd, Dr. Iyadunni Bolanle Yusuf, revealed that in the past, the Steel Sector was dominated by foreign owned companies until KAM Holding Ltd came on the scene. He noted that KAM Holding Ltd is home to manufacturing companies of Liquid, Iron and Steel Products that are wholly owned by Nigerians.
Yusuf appealed to the Ministry to ensure it protects the indigenous Steel manufacturing companies as it plays a critical role in the growth and development of the country by providing materials for building infrastructures, automobiles, engineering, defense as well as being the bedrock of industrialisation.
The Minster during the visit to Kwara also paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
