The Minister for Steel Development, SHUAIB ABUBARKAR-AUDU has said that Ajaokuta town will soon be designated as a Free Trade Zone.

ABUBAKAR-AUDU revealed this during his first visit to the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited when he took a tour of the complex with some investors from America, Germany, Russia, and China.

The Minister said the aim of the visit was to show would-be investors the vast potential of the steel resources and the prospects it can provide, and to get first-hand information on the problems stopping production in the company in a bid to proffering solutions.

He further stated that if gotten right, the Ajaokuta Steel Company could create over 500,000 jobs which would be enough to lift many Nigerians out of poverty.

The minister added that the investors would carry out an advanced technical audit of the steel complex and its facilities to see what more is to be done.