On April 4, 2025, a significant development unfolded in Nigeria’s industrial sector as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been at the helm of the nation since May 2023, greenlit the appointment of Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam as the new Managing Director of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

This move signals a renewed push to breathe life into one of Nigeria’s most ambitious yet long-dormant industrial projects.

The Ajaokuta Steel Company, a sprawling complex initiated in 1979, was envisioned as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrialization.

However, it has remained largely inactive for over four decades, plagued by a series of policy missteps, funding shortages, and mismanagement. Despite being 84% complete since 1983, the facility has yet to fulfill its potential as a driver of economic growth.

Nasir Naeem Abdulsalam, the newly appointed Managing Director, brings a wealth of expertise to this challenging role.

An Associate Professor of Geophysics at the University of Abuja, Abdulsalam has a robust academic and professional background in fields critical to industrial development.

His specialization in oil and gas, coupled with his work in environmental geophysics, positions him as a technically adept leader for the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

Before this appointment, Abdulsalam served as a Technical Adviser to the Minister of Steel Development and as a Special Assistant (Academics) to the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

His experience in both academia and policy advisory roles suggests a deep understanding of the technical and administrative hurdles that have long hindered the steel plant’s operations.

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s steel industry, which has been the focus of renewed government attention in recent years.

In 2024, the Federal Government initiated discussions with Luan Steel Holding Group, a Chinese firm, to explore partnerships aimed at revitalizing the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

These talks, led by the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, and the Minister of Defence, focused on not only restarting steel production but also repurposing parts of the facility to manufacture military hardware.

This strategic pivot aligns with Nigeria’s broader goals of addressing security challenges while boosting industrial output.

The collaboration with Luan Steel Holding Group is part of a larger plan to inject new life into the steel sector, with the government estimating that an investment of $1-10 billion could create up to 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The Ajaokuta Steel Company has long been a symbol of Nigeria’s unfulfilled industrial ambitions. Conceived during a period of oil-driven economic optimism, the project was meant to position Nigeria as a leading steel producer in Africa.

However, decades of neglect and failed concessions have left the facility in limbo, costing the country billions in lost economic opportunities.

President Tinubu’s administration, under its Renewed Hope Agenda, has prioritized economic diversification, and the revival of the steel industry is a key component of this vision.

Abdulsalam’s appointment is seen as a critical step toward achieving that goal, with the President tasking him to leverage his expertise to transform Ajaokuta into a hub of industrial and economic activity.

Public reactions to the appointment, as seen on platforms like X, reflect a mix of hope and skepticism.

While some Nigerians welcome the move as a sign of progress, others have raised concerns about the lack of diversity in high-level appointments, pointing out the dominance of certain ethnic groups in recent government decisions.

Nevertheless, the focus on Ajaokuta’s revival underscores the government’s determination to address long-standing industrial challenges and position Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s industrial landscape by 2027.

With Abdulsalam at the helm, the coming years will be crucial in determining whether Ajaokuta can finally rise to meet its original promise.