Coalition to host global conference on Ajaokuta Steel revival April 16

A coalition of civil society organisations under the banner of the CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company will on April 16, 2026, host an international conference on the future of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

The virtual event, scheduled to begin at 11:00am, comes at a critical time in Nigeria’s economic and industrial development.
In a statement issued by the group’s National Coordinator, Mohammed Bougei Attah, the conference will focus on the theme, “Ajaokuta Phenomenon in Tinubu’s Era: A Turning Point or Another Missed Opportunity?”

Attah said the conference aims to examine the current state of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, its prospects, and the level of political commitment toward its revival.

He described the steel complex as a key driver of Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda, noting that its revival has remained a major national concern for decades.

According to him, the event will bring together a wide range of stakeholders, including engineers, academics, labour leaders, civil society actors, policy experts, and international consultants from countries such as the United Kingdom, Russia, Canada, Belgium and The Gambia.

He added that the participation of global stakeholders highlights the strategic importance of Ajaokuta in positioning Nigeria as a competitive industrial hub.

The conference will also provide a platform for discussions on policy direction, transparency, accountability, and sustainable industrial development.

Attah noted that participants would offer practical recommendations and explore ways to mobilise both local and international support for the revival of the steel plant.

The event will feature opening remarks by Engr. Abdallah Sani of SOYUNIK Worldwide, as well as goodwill messages from key stakeholders across 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 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 for public participation.

The conference will end with the presentation of a communiqué outlining key resolutions and advocacy demands.

Attah recalled that the Ajaokuta Steel Company has long symbolised both Nigeria’s industrial aspirations and governance challenges.

He said the conference would help renew national conversations on whether the country is ready to finally revive the project or risk another missed opportunity.

The CSO Coalition, he added, is a non-partisan group committed to advocating the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex as a driver of job creation, economic growth and national development.