“CSOs Demand Transparent Ajaokuta Steel Revival Roadmap as Calls for Accountability Grow”

“CSOs Demand Transparent Ajaokuta Steel Revival Roadmap as Calls for Accountability Grow”

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to publicly release a comprehensive and transparent roadmap for the long awaited revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, insisting that openness and accountability are essential to restoring public confidence in one of the country’s most significant industrial assets.

The groups argued that while successive administrations have pledged to revive the steel complex, Nigerians deserve clear information on the government’s implementation strategy, funding plans, project timelines, and measurable milestones. They stressed that transparency would help ensure public oversight and reduce the risk of policy inconsistencies that have hampered previous revival efforts.

According to the CSOs, a publicly accessible roadmap should outline key phases of the rehabilitation process, identify responsible institutions, disclose financing arrangements, and establish mechanisms for regular progress reporting. They also urged the government to engage stakeholders including industry experts, labour unions, host communities, and the private sector to ensure the project delivers sustainable economic benefits.

The Ajaokuta Steel Company, located in Kogi State, has remained largely inactive despite decades of investment and repeated efforts to revive operations. Analysts have long described the facility as a strategic national asset capable of supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation drive, strengthening local manufacturing, reducing dependence on imported steel, and creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

The renewed appeal from civil society comes amid ongoing government efforts to attract investment into the steel sector as part of broader economic diversification initiatives. Industry observers note that a successful revival of Ajaokuta could significantly boost infrastructure development, manufacturing capacity, and value addition across multiple sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Transparency advocates maintain that publishing a detailed implementation framework would improve investor confidence, promote efficient use of public resources, and enable citizens to monitor progress against clearly defined objectives. They argue that regular public updates and independent oversight will be critical to ensuring that the revival project achieves its intended outcomes.

As discussions continue over the future of the steel plant, stakeholders are urging policymakers to move beyond announcements by adopting a credible, accountable, and time bound strategy that can transform Ajaokuta into a catalyst for Nigeria’s industrial growth and regional economic competitiveness.