BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has presented Letter of Appointment to the new Managing Director of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL), Prof. Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam.
During the exchange of baton by the former Acting Sole Administrator, Engr. Kanwai Joseph to the new leadership on Monday in Abuja, 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.
Prince Audu commended the outgoing Acting Sole Administrator, Engr. Kanwai Joseph, for his dedication to duty all throughout his 35 years of service at the Steel Plant where he rose from an entry level engineer to the helm of affairs as acting Sole Administrator in the last six months.
Prince Audu, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, assured that the revival of the entire steel sector is underway and urged the collaboration of stakeholders in ensuring the realization of Mr. President’s vision for the revitalization of the Ajaokuta steel plant.
“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.
The 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.
In his remarks, Prof. Abdulsalam expressed his preparedness to deliver on mandate with the support of the Minister, Permanent Secretary and the entire staff of the ministry towards realizing President Tinubu’s vision for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Plant.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the significant responsibility entrusted to him and thanked the Minister for his support and collaborative spirit.
He commended the Minister for remarkable achievements in less than two years and for the opportunity to serve as Technical Adviser, stating that the groundwork laid by the Minister has positioned him for success.
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.