THE METALLURGICAL INDUSTRY BILL: STIMULUS TO THE INDUSTRIALISATION, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA.
By Musa Asiru Bakare
In a significant move towards the enhancement of Nigeria’s industrial landscape, Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu, the Honorable Minister of Steel Development, recently unveiled a landmark Metallurgical Industry Bill, another major milestone in the renewed agenda mantra of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Government
This initiative is poised to play a crucial role in driving economic diversification within the country towards boosting economic diversification of the country. The bill signifies a proactive approach to address the challenges facing the steel and metallurgical sectors in Nigeria. It aims to create a robust framework that encourages investment, fosters innovation, and stimulates the growth of local industries, through the promotion of the development of the metallurgical industry.
The bill according to the Minister seeks to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported steel and related products, ultimately contributing to national iron and steel self-sufficiency.
The metallurgical industry produces metals used in many industries, including construction, automotive, aerospace, and maritime through the extraction and refining of metals and alloys from their natural occurrences. The processes involved in working with metals, from mining and refining ores to forming alloys and fabricating finished products
The industry can be broadly divided into two parts; primary and secondary metal production operations. Primary operation refers to the production of metal from ore while Secondary operations refers to the production of alloys from ingots and the recovery of metal from scrap and salvage.
The key objectives of the bill according to Minister Audu are the establishment of standards for quality control, the promotion of research and development, and the encouragement of sustainable practices in the metallurgical sector.
Focusing on these areas, the present Federal Government is not only looking to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian steel but also aiming to attract foreign investments that can lead to technological brakethrough, technology transfer and job creation.
The unveiling of this bill is a vital step towards realizing the government’s vision of an industrialized Nigeria. It aligns with broader efforts of the APC led Federal Government to diversify the economy away from oil dependency, which has long been the backbone of Nigeria’s economic structure.
By investing in the metallurgical industry, Nigeria would harness its vast mineral resources potentials and skilled workforce, paving the way for a more resilient and diversified economy.
Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu’s commitment to this cause reflects the Federal Government’s recognition of the importance of the steel industry in driving economic growth.
As the nation grapples with various economic challenges, the bill represents both a promise and a plan for a brighter future, one that prioritizes local production, stimulates job creation, and ultimately enhances the quality of life for Nigerians.
This is a commendable step, an initiative that holds the potential to transform the steel and metallurgical sectors, positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global market while ensuring sustainable economic growth.
Nigeria has abundant mineral resources, including iron ore, coal, natural gas, and limestone. The Federal Government hi established large state-owned steel mills, the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the Delta Steel Company. In recent years, Nigeria has been trying to attract private investors and foreign partnerships to revitalize steel production.
The Nigerian metal subsector of the economy is however in comatose status. This has contributed to the distressed state of national industrialisation process. It operates within a framework that stiffle Industrialization, Economic Development and technologically driven solutions to Nigeria’s economic problem, one of the major reasons for Nigeria’s development crises and seeming inability to grow
The market share of Nigeria’s iron and steel industry is dominated by imports due to the underperformance of local steel plants. With the passage of the bill, the industry has the potential to create jobs, reduce capital flight, drive industrialisation, massively contribute to the National GDP.
President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had emphasized that a revitalized steel development industry is both a catalyst for robust economic growth and a doorway to immense national wealth. The bill is therefore a significant step towards boosting the economic diversification of Nigeria. It shows a commitment to progress and development in the metallurgical industry, which will positively impact the lives of Nigerians.
Hon. Musa Asiru Bakare
member Tinubu Support Group (TSG) writes from Lokoja Kogi state capital
27th February, 2025
