Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated the determination of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to revive the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) through engagement with key stakeholders in the industry.

Olusola Abiola, spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President, in a statement, said Mr Shettima gave this indication at a meeting with the management of Russian Aluminium Company (UC RUSAL) and other stakeholders in the project during the ongoing Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The meeting with the stakeholders furthered the efforts by the federal government to reactivate production lines at ALSCON by re-engaging with UC RUSAL and other partners.

Speaking after a presentation by the UC RUSAL management, Mr Shettima said Nigeria benefits economically if the plant is reactivated.

“These are in the areas of energy transition and job creation, both directly and indirectly, and its impact on the development of small businesses is also huge.

“The sooner we get this plant back to production, the better for everyone. We need to walk the talk; the Nigerian people deserve better,” he said.

The vice president urged all the stakeholders to expedite work on the plan of action to restart production at the company.

In attendance at the meeting were Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Amb. Shehu Abdullahi, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Amb. Yusuf Tuga, and the permanent secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Gabriel Aduda.

Others were the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mary Ogbe, chief executive officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, among others.

Mr Shettima joined other African leaders at the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, declared open by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Putin noted in his opening remarks that the potential for trade and economic cooperation between Russia and African countries is much higher than the trade turnover of US$ 18 billion seen in 2022.

Mr Shettima is also attending a state banquet hosted by Mr Putin for the visiting heads of delegation at St. Petersburg’s ExpoForum.

(NAN)