Tinubu Support Group Hails NNPCL-Ajaokuta Gas Deal, Says Steel Revival on Course
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Tinubu Support Group Hails NNPCL-Ajaokuta Gas Deal, Says Steel Revival on Course
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Tinubu Media Support Group, TMSG, has described the agreement between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL and the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited for the supply of gas as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to revive the long-abandoned steel complex.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group said the development demonstrated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fulfilling his pledge to restore the steel plant to operation after more than four decades of inactivity.
According to the group, the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the management of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the NNPCL for a 20-year gas supply marks a turning point in the quest to revive Nigeria’s industrial sector.
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It noted that the agreement aligns with Tinubu’s campaign promise made in February 2023 to restore operations at the steel complex as part of efforts to stimulate industrialisation and economic growth.
The group also commended the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, for describing the agreement as a game changer, saying the availability of gas would remove one of the major obstacles that had hindered the operation of the steel plant for decades.
TMSG further praised the NNPCL for concluding the agreement, noting that the state-owned energy company had also signed strategic gas supply and network entry agreements with four other companies.
According to the statement, the agreement will provide the steel complex with firm and interruptible gas volumes required as feedstock, thereby laying the foundation for the resumption of production.
The group argued that the development would restore investor confidence in the steel complex, which many Nigerians had considered unviable after years of neglect.
It expressed optimism that with the gas supply challenge addressed, prospective investors would be more willing to partner with the Federal Government to complete the project and drive Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
The group added that a revitalised Ajaokuta Steel Company would boost local steel production, create employment opportunities and move the country closer to achieving its long-standing industrialisation goals.
It urged Nigerians to remain confident in the Tinubu administration’s ability to deliver on its promises and unlock the nation’s industrial potential through the revival of strategic national assets.
