Steel, Defence ministries to sign MoU
The Federal Government, yesterday, took steps towards the production of military hardware in Ajaokuta Steel Complex as plans were concluded for the ministries of Steel Development and Defence to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation.
Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, and the Minister of State, Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, disclosed this after a meeting at the Ministry of Defence, in Abuja.
According to Audu, the collaboration between both ministries would bring to fruition the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, geared towards reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Complex for steel production for several purposes, including military hardware.
The Minister of Steel Development said the Ajaokuta Steel Complex had various engineering workshops with the capacity to produce hardware for the military under the Defence Industries Cooperation of Nigeria (DICON) Act.
Audu said: “Today is a day that we have all waited for under the renewed hope agenda with the coming to fruition of a partnership between both ministries, the Ministry of Steel Development and the Ministry of Defence.
“There are several things we have agreed on, including signing an MoU so that DICON and Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited can partner to produce military hardware such as rifles, vests, helmets, and bullets, among other things, in the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.
“Ajaokuta has the facility to also accommodate a military barracks. There are over 10,000 housing units in Ajaoukuta, of which about 4,000 are occupied. We will put together a quality Memorandum of Understanding that will be well implemented, and we are confident of the outcomes.”
In his remarks, the Minister of State, Defence, said that all that had been agreed upon for the production of military hardware and a Military Industrial Complex in Ajaokuta was in line with the renewed hope agenda of Mr President.
Metawalle said: “Today, we have agreed on so many things, including the review of the MoU signed in 2020 between DICON and the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), which would now be between both ministries.
“Both permanent secretaries of the ministries will come up with a draft agreement, and we will have continuous and regular meetings so that great ideas can be put together in the agreement.”
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development, Dr Mary Ogbe, lauded both ministers for their commitments towards the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, described the meeting as a landmark achievement which would bring forth monumental development to the steel industry and Defence architecture of the country.
