Journal de la métallurgie des poudres et des mines

Abstrait

The Steel Industry: A Stimulus to National Development

Ocheri C*, Ajani OO, Daniel A and Agbo N

The Steel Industry will continue to serve as stimulus to national development and economy boaster to industrial development of a country. The industry will serve as the backbone of industrialization of our great country, Nigeria if all the necessary parameters are put in place. The benefits of having a functional steel industry will translate to a functional country. It should also be noted that steel industry will contribute to all the facets of the economy, including the important role steel plays in economic development and growth. In this presentation, the paper will highlight on the multiplier effects in the development and sustenance of agriculture, health care and virtually every other sector of the economy. The role of steel in defence was also identified. Discussion and emphases were place on the efforts made in the development of Steel Industry in Nigeria with a view to discussing the potentials that could be accrued for operating the industry. The paper also seek the concept of Government through this process of advocacies by requesting the Nigerian Government to complete the steel industry like Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited located at Ajaokuta in Kogi State. It should be noted that the steel industry was conceptualized as far back as 1958, because of the vital and strategic role of the steel industry in the transformation and reformation of the economy. If Nigeria ever desires to drop the toga of “underdeveloped economy” for that of “industrialized economy” catalyst and economy boaster the industry must be completed and make operational. If the steel industry had been completed, commissioned and effectively operated thirty-four years ago as conceptualized in the vision of the initiators, Nigeria would have been a different country in terms of industrial and economic development today.