The federal government has inaugurated an 11-member committee tasked with reviving the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), marking a renewed push to bring the long-idled industrial asset back into operation.
The committee was inaugurated in Abuja on Monday by representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, following years of stalled production and unresolved operational challenges at the smelter plant located in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom state.
According to officials, the committee’s mandate is to conduct a comprehensive review of ALSCON’s current condition and recommend practical steps to restore the facility to sustainable production. This includes examining technical, financial, and governance issues that have contributed to the plant’s prolonged inactivity.
The panel is also expected to engage with relevant stakeholders, assess existing contractual and ownership arrangements, and propose a clear roadmap for repositioning the company within Nigeria’s industrial value chain. Officials said the committee’s work will support the government’s broader goal of boosting local manufacturing, reducing import dependence, and creating jobs.
ALSCON, once envisioned as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s aluminium industry, has struggled for more than a decade due to disputes over ownership, inconsistent power supply, and weak operational oversight. Despite Nigeria’s access to gas resources needed to power the smelter, the plant has remained largely dormant, limiting its contribution to industrial output and exports.
The government said reviving ALSCON could help stimulate downstream industries such as construction, automotive manufacturing, and packaging, while strengthening Nigeria’s non-oil export base. Authorities also noted that restoring the plant aligns with ongoing efforts to revive strategic national assets and attract fresh private-sector investment.
While the committee has been given a defined timeframe to submit its findings, officials stressed that its recommendations would guide future policy decisions on the smelter’s ownership structure, financing options, and long-term management.
The inauguration of the committee comes amid renewed government interest in industrial revival as part of a wider economic diversification agenda, with officials signalling that dormant public assets will increasingly be reviewed for possible turnaround or restructuring.
