By ABAH ADAH
Federal Government has expressed satisfaction with the $600 million investment by African Natural Resources & Mines Limited, ANML, a subsidiary of African Industries Group, AIG, in the Kaduna Steel Plant which has begun production.
Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar made this known after being conducted round the plant during his working visit alongside the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasabramania, on Thursday.
African Natural Resources & Mines Kaduna Steel Plant, also known as ANRML; African Industries Group, is a direct reduced iron steel plant with an iron ore mine that feeds it in Gujeni village in Kagarko Local Government Area.
The minister said, “The facility you have here, including the mine, is amazing; it is massive and sitting on 900 hectares of real estate. It is very clear that it dovetails into the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of President Bola Tinubu whose dream and desire is to grow the economy to over $1 trillion by 2030.
“What we are seeing here is putting us on the right track. Some of the important things I have noted here is that AIG group has invested close to $600 million in this plant and the primary production activity which is mining of iron ore – the raw material for steel production takes place here.
“And like the GMD of AIG mentioned, steel is the catalyst for industrialisation in any nation throughout the history of the world, so it’s a very important component; AIG is playing a very important role in taking Nigeria to the next level.”
He appreciated AIG for believing in the country, creating jobs for Nigerians through their investments, even as he tasked them to do more in helping the country meet its local demand and export the excess.
“I want to urge the company to invest more to help us meet our local demand. About 10 million metric tonnes worth $4 billion, from what I understand, are still being imported into this country, and I think this company has a significant role to play in helping us reverse that trend, to enable us meet local demand and export the excess,” he said.
Responding, AIG’s Group Managing Director, GMD, Alok Gupta, thanked the minister for the visit and for his pledge to support indigenous steel companies such as AIG in Nigeria.
“I am confident that under your dynamic leadership, we will see a revival of the local steel sector. We stand by your commitment to revitalise the nation steel to meet local and international consumption,” he added.
On his part, the Indian High Commissioner said he went round with the minister and was pleased to see the huge contribution made by AIG’s ARNML through their massive investment in terms of money, technology, as well as the large manpower being used.
Of the $14 billion investment in Nigeria promised when President Tinubu visited India and had a discussion with the Prime Minister recently, the High Commissioner disclosed that about $7 billion had already been factified by about 200 companies of Indian origin in the country.
