Steel Minister Calls for Suspension of NASWDEN Strike

Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, the Minister of Steel Development, called on the leadership of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) to suspend their ongoing industrial action to promote industrial harmony and stability in Nigeria's steel sector. This statement was made on Wednesday, with Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, the permanent secretary of the ministry, representing him.

The ministry acknowledged NASWDEN's concerns regarding issues such as the undervaluation of scrap metals, weight reductions due to weighing scale malpractices, and the involvement of local steel-producing companies in direct scrap trading. The ministry is currently consulting with the National Steel Council to address these concerns.

The minister directed the permanent secretary to invite NASWDEN's leadership for further discussions. He emphasized the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders to achieve the federal government's target of 10 million metric tonnes of annual steel production by 2030, which is vital for Nigeria's industrialization and economic transformation.