Ajaokuta Steel Revival Takes Centre Stage as CSOs Plan International Conference

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Ajaokuta Steel Revival Takes Centre Stage as CSOs Plan International Conference

By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo

A coalition of civil society organisations pushing for the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company has announced plans to hold an international conference to address the future of Nigeria’s long delayed industrial project.

The conference, scheduled to hold virtually on April 16, 2026, is expected to draw participants from Nigeria and across several countries to examine the prospects of reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, widely seen as a cornerstone of the nation’s industrialisation efforts.

Speaking in a statement issued in Abuja, the CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company said the event is themed “Ajaokuta Phenomenon in Tinubu’s Era,” A Turning Point or Another Missed Opportunity?” and comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s economy.

“The conference is convened at a crucial juncture in Nigeria’s economic and industrial trajectory,” the statement read, adding that it would “interrogate the status, prospects, and political will surrounding the revival of the long abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

”The organisers noted that the conference would attract engineers, academics, labour leaders, international consultants, and policy experts from countries including the United Kingdom, Russia, Canada, Belgium, and The Gambia, reflecting what they described as the global significance of the project.

According to the National Coordinator of the coalition, Mohammed B. Attah, the forum is aimed at “reigniting national discourse on the strategic importance of Ajaokuta Steel Company” and “assessing the commitment of the current administration toward its revival.

”Attah added that the platform would also “provide evidence-based policy recommendations, strengthen advocacy for transparency and accountability, and mobilise both domestic and international support for actionable reforms.

”The programme is expected to feature opening remarks by Engr. Abdallah Sani of SOYUNIK Worldwide, followed by a conference briefing by Attah and goodwill messages from stakeholders in labour, business, and academia.

A keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Banji Oyeyinka, a Visiting Fellow at The Open University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and a former staff member of the African Development Bank.There will also be a high-level panel discussion involving experts in engineering, trade, civil society, and human rights, alongside interactive sessions to allow for public engagement.

The organisers said a communiqué containing key resolutions and advocacy demands would be presented at the end of the conference.

“For decades, the Ajaokuta Steel Company has symbolised both Nigeria’s industrial ambition and its governance challenges,” the statement noted, stressing that the conference represents “a decisive moment for stakeholders to demand clarity, commitment, and concrete action from government and partners.

”The CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company, established in 2019, describes itself as a non partisan alliance committed to advocating the revitalisation of the steel complex as a catalyst for job creation and economic development.