The Federal Government has reconstituted the National Steel Council with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in steel production.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite who made the disclosure at the council’s inauguration said such a feat cannot be overemphasized as the steel industry remains the backbone of modern society.

According to Adegbite, “I wish to begin my remarks by thanking President Muhammadu Buhari who has deemed it expedient to reconstitute the National Steel Council.

“This decision is a step in the right direction, which brings us closer to our goal of achieving self-sufficiency in steel production.

“Indeed, the importance of achieving such a feat cannot be overemphasized as the steel industry remains the backbone of modern society”, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite noted.

He further stressed that the steel industry serves as a key enabler in the economy by providing the basic raw materials for public infrastructure development projects as well as key sectors such as housing and real estate development, energy, automotive, defense, and various small and medium enterprises engaged in downstream engineering and fabrication business.

The sector has significant forward and backward linkages regarding material flow, employment, and income generation.

“Indeed Mr. President is aware of this which is why he has approved the reconstitution of the National Steel Council”.

“The National Steel Act clearly makes adequate provisions for the establishment of the National Steel council, which would be responsible for the central planning of the iron and steel industry.

“The Council shall consist of a chairman, executive secretary, four board members, and one representative drawn from the following Federal Ministries, which are Industry; Finance; Power, and Steel”, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite said.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade, at the inauguration of the Re-Constituted National Steel Council, noted that the initiative was a remarkable milestone achieved by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and it is a strategic feat as regards the drive towards revitalising the Steel Sector in Nigeria.

“I am convinced that this Council will complement the efforts by the Ministry, in ensuring that the development of the industry is in continuous progression, despite the hurdles that are being experienced”.

“The fact that, as part of the Council’s mandates, it will also be responsible for “training of Nigerians in all aspects of the iron and steel industry and related fields;” “the deployment of senior Nigerian Management Staff and Trainees to steel plants and other sectors of the industry”; and especially for “Research into the Development and Manufacture of equipment to be used for the purpose of – and in relation to – basic engineering in the steel industry”; is very significant and heart-warming to witness this inauguration”.

Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade also noted that the functions of the Council is designed to cover areas that will contribute in developing the relevant human capacity and necessary tools that will be needed to build-up and sustain the Metallurgical and Steel Sector.

“It will interest you to know that, to ensure effective functionality of this committee, its members have been drawn from four pertinent Federal Ministries; and from some of the Government Steel Companies; and also from the Private Sector.

“This diversity will help to facilitate the required mix in such councils, the required balance of professionalism, an ecosystem for the share of rich knowledge, and access to vital information and to essential institutions”, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade said.

She however wish the newly inaugurated committee the very best in their new national assignment and congratulate the Honourable Ministers, and felicitate with the entire Metallurgical and Steel sub-sector, for this grand mile-stone achieved.

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