NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA SIGN PACT ON MINING DEVELOPMENT In a bid to solidify the partnership fostered through the Nigeria–South Africa Bi-National Commission—recently inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Cyril Ramaphosa—the Ministers of Solid Minerals of both nations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining key areas of cooperation, complete with implementation timelines. During a bilateral meeting at his office in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake hosted South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, H.E. Gwede Mantashe. Dr. Alake described the engagement as a milestone in deepening bilateral relations, especially in the vital mining sector. Reflecting on the historical ties between the two countries, Alake noted the longstanding diplomatic and economic cooperation built on mutual respect and a shared vision for Africa’s development. He stressed that collaboration in the mining sector offers vast opportunities for industrialization, job creation, and sustainable growth across the continent. “The Memorandum of Understanding in geology, mining, and mineral processing signed today,” Alake stated, “will serve as a cornerstone for facilitating knowledge and technology transfer, investment promotion, capacity building, regional integration, and value addition.” Key Highlights of the MoU Include: Capacity building in geological applications using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Utilization of Multi- and Hyper-spectral Remote Sensing Technologies for mineral exploration and geological mapping Sharing of geoscientific data on strategic minerals through the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) Training on mineral processing and value addition Capacity Building on Elemental Fingerprint Technology using LA-ICP-MS Exploration of Agro and Energy Minerals In Nigeria   Alake emphasized Nigeria’s renewed focus on developing its mining industry, stating that South Africa could benefit from Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth, while Nigeria could tap into South Africa’s advanced mining expertise. This synergy, he said, would open doors to investment, skills development, and economic diversification. In his remarks, H.E. Gwede Mantashe affirmed that South Africa—where mining plays a central role in the economy—stands to gain from Nigeria’s revitalized interest in the sector. He added that his visit aimed to fine-tune agreements from the Bi-National Commission and to deepen collaboration on mutually beneficial projects with Nigeria’s Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. Both ministers committed to sustained engagement and collaboration to boost intra-African trade and deliver on the actionable steps outlined in the MoU. They expressed confidence that this renewed partnership would significantly enhance the mining sectors of both countries. The MoU signing was attended by the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Steel Development, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu; alongside senior officials from both solid minerals and steel development ministries and members of the South African delegation led by H.E. Gwede Mantashe.

MINISTER OF STEEL DEVELOPMENT, PRINCE SHUAIBU ABUBAKAR AUDU, PRESENTS LETTER OF APPOINTMENT TO THE NEW MD OF AJAOKUTA STEEL COMPANY The Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, on Monday, April 7, 2025, officially received the newly appointed Managing Director of the  Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL), Prof. Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam and presented him with his appointment letter following the handover by the former Acting Sole Administrator, Engr. Kanwai Joseph, to the new leadership. Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the Minister’s office in Abuja, Prince Audu expressed confidence in Prof. Abdulsalam’s ability to lead Ajaokuta Steel Company in alignment with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the revival of the moribund steel plant. The Minister also extended his appreciation to the outgoing Acting Sole Administrator, Engr. Kanwai Joseph, commending his dedication to duty all through his almost 35 years of service at the Steel Plant where he rose from an entry level engineer to the healm of affairs at the Steel Plant as acting Sole Administrator in the last six months. “I congratulate the newly appointed Managing Director of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Prof. Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam, a seasoned academician and Professor of Geophysics and someone well-acquainted with the steel sector, having served as my Technical Adviser prior to this appointment. “Reviving Ajaokuta Steel Plant is a collective project. It is not something the Minister, Permanent Secretary, or Managing Director can achieve alone. All hands must be on deck as it requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders to realise Mr. President’s vision for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Plant and the broader steel sector. “I assure you that the revival of Ajaokuta Steel and the entire Steel Sector is well underway. Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) in Moscow, Russia in September last year, we are on the verge of carrying out the technical and financial audit of the Complex and other critical processes so as to bring in investors and suitors from the various options available through a privatization process as directed by Mr. President. Our role is to consolidate these gains and present viable options for Mr. President’s approval. “I wish you Godspeed as we work together towards the successful revival of Ajaokuta Steel Plant,” Prince Audu stated. Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry, Dr. Chris Osa Isokponwu, also congratulated Prof. Abdulsalam on his appointment, urging him to prepare for the enormous task ahead while assuring him of the Ministry’s full support. “It will not be an easy task; you are facing a challenge of over 45 years. The good news is that you have a Minister who is fully committed to the success of Ajaokuta’s revival,” Dr. Isokponwu stated. In his response, Prof. Abdulsalam expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting him with this significant responsibility and thanked the Honourable Minister for his support and collaborative spirit. He also commended the Minister for the remarkable strides taken in less than two years in office and also giving him the opportunity to serve as his Technical Adviser prior to his appointment, stating that the groundwork laid by the Minister has positioned him for success. “Our fundamental goal is to work together to realise Mr. President’s vision for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Plant. I am fully prepared to deliver on this mandate with the support of the Honourable Minister, the Permanent Secretary, and the entire team at the Ministry of Steel Development. I pray and I am confident that Ajaokuta will come alive in our time,” Prof. Abdulsalam stated. The outgoing Acting Sole Administrator, Engr. Kanwai Joseph, praised the Minister’s decision to engage the original builders of the steel plant, describing it as the most strategic move in his 35 years of service at Ajaokuta. He noted that if this step had been taken earlier, the steel plant would have been revived long ago.

NIGERIA TO PRODUCE 10M TONNES OF STEEL ANNUALLY TO REDUCE IMPORT -Discloses partnership with DICON for production of Military hardware The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has said that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, their target is to produce 10 million metric tonnes of steel annually so as to significantly reduce the country’s reliance on imported steel. “Once our plans are fully implemented in the next five years, we will achieve all our objectives,” he said. He spoke in Kaduna on Thursday, while on a visit to the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).The Minister also paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe. The Minister who said Nigeria imports about $4 billion worth of steel annually,underscored the need for import substitution so as to reduce pressure on foreign exchange. Describing NSRMEA as a cornerstone in the Federal Government’s plan to grow Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion by 2030,Minister Audu said “for Nigeria to produce steel in large quantities as we desire, it is very important that the exploration arm of the industry is operating at full capacity.” He said previous assessments ranked NSRMEA as one of the best-performing agencies under his ministry, and commended the agency for its performance. According to him, plans were underway to partner with the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to produce military hardware in Nigeria. He said one of President Bola Tinubu’s key objectives is the rehabilitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company. “We are working towards integrating military hardware production into the complex as part of a broader plan to establish a military-industrial complex in Nigeria.An MoU had already been drafted and shared with DICON, pending presidential approval,” he added. He said the administration would reposition the steel sector in Nigeria, even as they planned to organize Nigeria’s inaugural steel summit to organize stakeholders who would develop a comprehensive blueprint for the steel industry’s growth and development. According to him, the Metallurgical Industry Bill, has passed its second reading at the House of Representatives.”The bill, once passed and signed into law, will provide a regulatory framework for both private and corporate steel players, ensuring proper governance and development of the sector.” “The Federal Government is attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) into the steel industry… President Tinubu was in New Delhi in September 2023, where a commitment was made for the production of five million metric tonnes of steel in Nigeria.” “In addition, a Chinese company, Galaxy, is investing $300 million in a steel plant in Ogun State. These investments will expand Nigeria’s steel production capacity..The ministry is working on a 5-10 year roadmap for the steel industry, incorporating best practices from other countries.”