The Federal Government says it has taken steps to commence the production of military hardware in the Ajaokuta Steel Complex as the Ministries of Steel Development and Defence plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, and his counterpart, the Minister of State, Defence, Bello Matawalle, made this revelation after a meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
The collaborations, according to Prince Audu, would bring to fruition the vision of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu geared at reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Complex for steel production for several purposes, including military hardware.
He said the Ajaokuta Steel complex has various engineering workshops with the capacity to produce hardware for the military under the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, Act.
“Today is a day that we have all waited for under the renewed hope agenda with the coming to fruition of a partnership between both ministries, the Ministry of Steel Development and the Ministry of Defence.
“There are a number of things we have agreed on, including signing an MoU so that DICON and Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited can partner to produce military hardware such as rifles, vests, helmets, and bullets, among other things, in the Ajaokuta Steel Complex,” Audu said.
On his part, the Minister of State, Defence, said all that has been agreed upon for the production of military hardware and a Military Industrial Complex in Ajaokuta was in line with the renewed hope agenda of Mr President.
Nigerian govt to begin military hardware production in Ajaokuta