Ajaokuta Steel: Host Communities Excited Over Russian Experts’ Return

The arrival of a 23-man team of Russian engineers from Tyamzhpromexport (TPE) at the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited for an assessment, technical audit and evaluation of the complex has excited the host communities.

It is part of the federal government’s efforts to revive the abandoned project. Sources told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the engineering team was from the firm that initially handled construction of the steel plant.

Welcoming the team to the steel complex on behalf of his constituents , the member representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem, expressed their gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the revitalisation of the complex.

He commended the management led by Ismaila Aka’aba and staff of the company for keeping the equipment at the steel plant in good shape.

Also, stakeholders, especially members of the host community have expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment towards the process of reviving the plant. The head of the Okonu clan, Alhaji Ohi Isa thanked the Steel Development minister, Shuaib Abubakar Audu, for the efforts to revitalize the company.

He said, “Prince Shuaibu Audu Abubakar is ensuring Nigeria does not repeat the mistakes of the past. He is ensuring Nigeria does not make any mistake of entering into any wrong deal in as much the need to revitalize the steel industry in Nigeria is concerned. He is taking his time to get Nigeria the best steel deal possible. When the Ajaokuta Steel Company is revived, Kogi Central will benefit a lot as the home-region where the plant is situated.”