By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Ministry of Steel Development and its Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy counterpart have agreed to close ranks in boosting the use of locally manufactured steel products in the construction of telecommunications towers across the Nigeria, including other areas of mutual benefit.
This was a central point of the discussion during a courtesy visit by Honourable Minister of Steel Development Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu to his counterpart, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani in Abuja, according to a statement by the head, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Salamatu F. Jibaniya.
The discussions also explored the establishment of a Technology Hub within the Ajaokuta Industrial Park and Free Trade Zone, currently awaiting the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the implementation of tailored capacity-building initiatives for artisans in the steel sector, aimed at fostering innovation, productivity, and job creation.
Prince Audu said that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly the drive to promote local content, strengthen the steel industry, and reduce reliance on imported materials, emphasising the capacity of local steel players in the country to provide effective services to the telecommunications sector.
“In terms of where we see areas of collaboration, I have seen your initiative and plans to build 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country at a total cost of 3.3 trillion naira and 7,000 telecom towers to be installed nationwide by end-2025. We know that there will be a lot of value addition to Nigerians.
“During my official visit to Ogun State recently, I commissioned a Galvanised Steel Plant. These Galvanised Steel Plants are anti-rust, and they have capacity to be used for Telecom towers.
“We want these local players to be patronised, so we will appreciate if they are incorporated into this very important project.
“On technical skills development, we had training for welders and artisans. We are hoping that you can expand your innovation and digital training skills programme to be able to include some of these specialised skills that we have in the steel industry because some of our guys have the skills to erect telecoms towers,” Prince Audu stated.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani who welcomed the collaboration between both ministries described it as long overdue and an enabler of President Tinubu’s vision for economic growth and job creation.
Dr Tijani said that beyond incorporating locally produced steel in the construction of the 7,000 telecom towers, the ministry is focused on ensuring long-term sustainability of the projects by involving local players for maintenance of the infrastructure.
“We will leverage this project to support the work you do. My goal is that for everything steel in this project, it should be 100 per cent locally sourced. What we need to do is to have a strong alignment on how we can develop critical sectors of the economy” Tijani said.
Both ministers agreed on the formation of a joint technical committee to ensure seamless implementation of the strategies and ensure synergy between both sectors.