According to a news report from The Sun, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq expressed optimism on Tuesday about Nigeria's industrialization efforts, emphasizing the importance of maximising the country's steel potentials. He hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's proposed reforms and stressed the significance of reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Company for the nation's industrial drive.

During a visit by a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, led by Honourable Minister Prince Audu Shuaib Abubakar, Governor AbdulRazaq suggested that Kwara's KAM Holdings Limited could take over the operation of Ajaokuta Steel Production. He highlighted KAM's significant contributions to Nigeria's steel sector, positioning it as a fitting candidate for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel.

Governor AbdulRazaq welcomed the delegation to Ilorin, noting that Kwara, home to KAM Holdings, stands as a significant player in Nigeria's steel production. He commended the Minister for personally investigating the situation at Ajaokuta, emphasising the importance of gathering firsthand information for informed decision-making.

Kwara is arguably the second largest steel production in Nigeria today through activities of KAM Holdings led by Alhaji Kamoru Yusuf, according to the Governor.

“As you know, Ajaokuta is an albatross, and we are very confident that the company will untie the issues there and make the industry come to fruition. When Ajaokuta was established, it was in Kwara state,” he added.

“Once again, you are welcome to Kwara. I hope you have a great time here. And the fact you will see will convince you that KAM Holdings is the right company to take over the Ajaokuta Steel Company. It will benefit our country and our state.”

He commended the Minister for championing the process to revive Ajaokuta, including picking Kwara as their first choice for the fact-finding visit.

“I must commend you for stepping out of your office to get the facts right before you formulate a policy for the development of the steel sector. This is highly commendable because going round will enable you to get firsthand facts in moving this sector forward,” the Governor said.

“Kwara is arguably the second largest steel production in Nigeria today through activities of KAM Holdings led by Alhaji Kamoru Yusuf. We hold him in high esteem. His investment should be in trillions of naira.

“This is an industry which could have been located for economic reasons in the Ogun – Lagos southern axis, but for his patriotism and love for his state it is located in Kwara. So, we commend him for that. And I am making a very strong pitch for KAM Holdings in the future of Ajaokuta Steel Production and projects.”

The Governor received the delegation alongside some cabinet members and captain of industry, including Chief of Staff Prince AbdulKadir Mahe; Senior Advisor and Counsellor Alhaji Sa’adu Salau; Commissioner for Solid Minerals Dr Afeez Alabi Abolore; Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology Hon. Damilola Yusuf Adelodun; State APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi; and Chairman KAM Holdings Limited Alhaji Kamaru Yusuf; among others.

Prince Audu, for his part, said they were in Kwara to encourage indigenous players in the steel industry, a step he noted aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu to scale up industrialisation.

He described Governor AbdulRazaq as a political amazon in Nigeria, and hailed the “unprecedented” achievements of the administration in some key sectors of the economy for the state.

“My visit to Kwara state, today, is to encourage indigenous players in the steel industry. We have been discussing across board with some foreign investors that are interested in coming to Nigeria, but I thought it imperative to also associate, pay a visit and support indigenous players that are doing extremely well in the steel and metal industry in Nigeria,” the Minister said, acknowledging that the Ilorin-based KAM Holding remains the leading indigenous steel company in Nigeria.

“It is my honour and privilege to be in Ilorin, Kwara State, this afternoon. Kwara state is a sister state to Kogi state where I am from. As you all know, Kogi state was carved out in 1991 from the old Benue and Kwara states. So Kwara is very dear to me.

“The Executive Governor of Kwara State is a political amazon who is well vast and experienced in the area of politics. To lead the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is not a child’s play. It is something that requires good temperament, experience, knowledge, and a lot of wisdom.”

He said the federal government is committed to creating over eighty (80) million jobs for Nigerian citizens in eight years, including through the steel industry.

“Under the renewed hope of President Tinubu GCFR, one of his cardinal objectives is to grow the size of Nigeria’s GDP to over $1 trillion. And part of what we need to do to achieve that is to focus on industrialisation, which has the capacity to create hundreds of thousands and even millions of jobs,” he said.

“So I am here to first of all pay my respect and acknowledge the Executive Governor of Kwara State for doing such a wonderful job across the sub-sector of the economy, whether in primary healthcare, education, infrastructural development, or road network, which are unprecedented in the history of kwara state. This state is very lucky to have a well accomplished Governor who is a leader of men. Kwara is a renowned and trailblazer state, and I am very happy to be here.”