In a bold move signaling renewed efforts to
industrialize Nigeria’s economy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed
Engr. Mohammed Abdulsalam as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive
Officer of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL).
The appointment was confirmed through a statement
issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale. According to the statement, Abdulsalam is
tasked with spearheading the long-delayed revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant
and repositioning it as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial sector.
“The President expects Engr. Abdulsalam to bring about
a comprehensive revitalization of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and to ensure it
plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s industrial growth, job creation, and national
self-reliance,” the statement read.
The Ajaokuta Steel Plant, once envisioned as the
bedrock of Nigeria’s industrial revolution, has remained largely moribund for
over four decades, due to policy inconsistencies, funding constraints, and
protracted legal disputes.
Who is Abdulsalam?
Engr. Mohammed Abdulsalam: The Man With a Mission
Engr. Abdulsalam, a mechanical engineer with a
background in metallurgy and industrial systems, brings over 30 years of
experience in steel production and infrastructure development across Nigeria
and West Africa. He is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and holds
a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the Technical University of
Munich, Germany.
Before his latest appointment, he served as the
Executive Director (Operations) at the Delta Steel Company and was instrumental
in overseeing several public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives aimed at
reviving dormant steel infrastructure.
Industry insiders say Abdulsalam’s reputation as a
turnaround expert and his firm grasp of the steel value chain make him a
suitable choice for the enormous task ahead.
"He's a results-oriented professional who
understands not just the technical complexities but also the socio-economic
implications of revitalizing Ajaokuta,” said Dr. Uchenna Okeke, an industrial
policy analyst based in Lagos.
Abdulsalam has already signaled his commitment to
driving a phased rehabilitation of the plant, focusing initially on core
operations such as the blast furnace, rolling mill, and engineering workshops,
while concurrently seeking investment partners for full-scale operations.
National Expectations and Sector Reactions
Can Abdulsalam Deliver? The Nation Watches
Reactions have poured in from stakeholders across the
country following the announcement. The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)
welcomed the appointment, describing it as a critical step toward unlocking
Nigeria’s industrial potential.
“This appointment is long overdue,” said Engr.
Margaret Ofor, Vice President of NSE. “We now have a capable professional at
the helm, and we urge the government to support him with the necessary
political will and funding.”
Ajaokuta Steel Company, located in Kogi State, was
conceived in the 1970s as Africa’s largest integrated steel plant, with the
capacity to produce 1.3 million metric tons of steel annually. However, the
project has been stalled due to decades of neglect, mismanagement, and failed
concession agreements.
President Tinubu’s administration has made industrial
revival a key component of its “Renewed Hope Agenda.” With the global steel
market expanding and Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit growing, the need for
local steel production has never been more urgent.
Engr. Abdulsalam, in his first media address after the
announcement, pledged transparency, public-private collaboration, and a
commitment to turning Ajaokuta into a hub of economic activity.
“We are not just reopening a factory,” he said. “We
are igniting the engine of national industrial transformation.”
As Nigeria watches closely, expectations are high. The
Tinubu administration’s bet on Engr. Abdulsalam could determine whether
Ajaokuta remains a symbol of missed opportunity — or finally becomes a pillar
of prosperity.
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