Ajaokuta Steel Plant: Open Letter To President Tinubu

This open letter to Presi­dent Bola Ahmed Tinibu is primarily triggered by the appointment of Pro­fessor Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam as the new Managing Director of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL). Considering the exigencies surrounding the ill health of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, we are con­strained to call on President Tinu­bu to step up the game to clear all bureaucratic bottlenecks that can stifle the operations of the plant even with the new management coming on board. In what could be a decisive turn­ing point for Nigeria’s long-elu­sive industrial breakthrough, stakeholders, policy analysts, and concerned citizens are calling on President Tinubu to urgently clear bureaucratic bottlenecks that have delayed China’s planned interven­tion in the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL), despite reports of a $1 billion de­posit already committed by the Chinese consortium to the revival of the company.

This call comes on the heels of the recent appointment of Pro­fessor Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam as the new Managing Director of Ajaokuta Steel Company, a devel­opment seen as a bold step under your administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reinvigorate Ni­geria’s dormant steel sector. It will be recalled that about six months ago, through credible national media platforms, partic­ularly Channels TV, the Nigerian public was made to be aware of a landmark proposal by the Chinese government and its industrial partners to inject over $1 billion into the rehabilitation of Ajaokuta Steel Plant with Chief Emmanuel Edijala, the Warri-based oil and gas magnate. The funds, according to the Channels TV reports, has been earmarked for comprehensive technical upgrades, training, and equipment overhaul to finally op­erationalize the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, which has been under lock and key for over four decades.



Sources within the Ministry of Steel Development confirmed that the Chinese consortium had not only expressed readiness but also demonstrated financial com­mitment by, reportedly, placing an initial deposit in escrow — a move that signifies seriousness and financial capacity to wake up the sleeping white elephant called Ajaokuta Steel Plant. However, insider checks re­vealed that the deal has been stalled due to some bureaucratic inertia, inter-agency disagree­ments, and sluggish follow-up on the part of key regulatory institu­tions. This has prompted mount­ing frustration among foreign partners and widespread concern among Nigerians who are eager to see Ajaokuta live up to its poten­tial as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial development.

With the appointment of Prof. Abdulsalam — a seasoned aca­demic, geophysicist, and former technical adviser to the Minister of Steel Development — hopes have been rekindled. During the formal handover ceremony on Monday, April 7, 2025, Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuai­bu Abubakar Audu, hailed the pro­fessor’s experience and commit­ment, affirming the government’s determination to reposition the steel sector.

“The revival of Ajaokuta is a collective project that requires all hands on deck,” the Minister em­phasized, reaffirming that a Mem­orandum of Understanding (MoU) had already been signed in 2023 in Moscow with the original equip­ment manufacturers — a move he described as part of broader strategic reforms. Outgoing Sole Administra­tor, Engr. Kanwai Joseph, who served for over 35 years and led the company for the last six months, endorsed the new direc­tion and described the re-engage­ment of original builders as the most strategic decision taken in decades.

Despite these commendable efforts, the elephant in the room remains: Why has the Chinese-led revival plan not yet taken off ? Why, despite assurances and doc­umented expressions of interest? The question remains: why has the reported one-billion-dollar Chinese lifeline failed to be acti­vated? According to Dr Emeka Ndubuisi, policy analyst and economist, “The President must intervene personally with the ex­ecutive fiat to get things done in the Trump executive order tem­plate. We are sitting on the most strategic opportunity for Nigeria’s industrial future. China’s offer is not just about finance — it’s about transferring world-class technol­ogy, building human capital, and establishing value chains that will transform our economy.

” Let us take the opportunity seriously for the sake of a better Nigeria. It is also imperative to get stressed that the Ministry of Jus­tice, the Bureau of Public Enter­prises, and other relevant agencies must be given clear executive di­rectives to fast-track all approvals and finalize any pending docu­mentation. Ajaokuta Steel Plant, when ful­ly operational, is projected to cre­ate over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, provide affordable raw mate­rials for thousands of industries, and drastically reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported steel.

Moreover, it has the potential to anchor critical national projects in defense, transportation, hous­ing, and power infrastructure. “The Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda can only be actualized if critical national as­sets like Ajaokuta are unlocked,” said Comrade Aliyu Salisu, a youth leader and pro-industrial­ization advocate. “We therefore urge the President to cut through the red tape.

Let the Chinese begin work. Let Ajaokuta breathe.” As Nigeria continues to battle unemployment, inflation, and under-industrialization, the ur­gency to operationalize Ajaokuta Steel Plant cannot be overstated.

With a willing foreign partner, a fresh leadership at the helm, and a determined President, history beckons. President Tinubu has a unique opportunity to etch his name in gold by delivering Nigeria’s most iconic industrial dream. The time to act is now.

Comrade Macaulay, a development ad­vocate and public affairs commentator, writes from Warri, Delta State.