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Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu has performed the official groundbreaking ceremony of the Inner Galaxy Group’s Stellar Steel Plant, a $400 million investment in Ogun State. This was disclosed in a statement released on Thursday by the Ministry’s Principal Information Officer, Ijomah E. Opia. The steel plant, which will sit on over 100 hectares of land once completed, is expected to produce hot-rolled coil, reducing Nigeria’s $4 billion annual steel import bill, strengthening the nation’s foreign-exchange position, growing and diversifying the economy away from oil & gas and also creating over 3,500 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians. The groundbreaking ceremony of the Stellar Steel Plant follows the commissioning of the African Industries Group’s Galvanised Steel Plant with an estimated annual turnover of about $100 million. Both activities form part of the minister’s one-week official visit to Lagos and Ogun states to engage with private sector steel players. Performing the groundbreaking ceremony, Audu lauded the Inner Galaxy Group for their commitment to the steel industry revival efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, reiterating that the Federal Government is keen on encouraging private sector players as a means of growing the Nigerian economy. “As you are aware, this is one of the most robust cabinet teams that has been put together by any President since the advent of the democratic dispensation in the Fourth Republic in 1999 because President Tinubu is renowned for selecting the best hands and leaders to actualise his vision,” Audu said. The minister also expressed confidence in the capacity of the Inner Galaxy Group to deliver on its plans for the completion of the Stellar Steel Plant, as he expects to commission the completed plant by next April, 2026. He lauded the company’s track record in Nigeria, which includes building the largest lithium factory in Nasarawa State and a $150 million battery-recycling facility in Aba, Abia State. “I have personally come to support the Inner Galaxy Group and the Stellar Steel Team for this 400-million-dollar investment in the steel sector. It is a very impressive project, and I have come to perform the groundbreaking ceremony, as I look forward to coming for the commissioning once it is ready in April 2026, by God’s grace. “Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we are determined to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Steel is the backbone of industrialisation; from roads and power stations to defence hardware — they all need steel, and this particular project exemplifies the public–private partnership required to compete in Africa and globally. “We want to grow the Nigerian economy to one of the biggest economies in the world by 2030. China has done that excellently well over the last 30 years and is also renowned for speed of execution. “We, as leaders in Nigeria want to follow in those footsteps so that we can make our economy not just the biggest in Africa but one of the biggest in the world,” Audu said. Vice President of the Inner Galaxy Group, Mr Jackie Shan, who interpreted on behalf of its Chairman, Mr Li Chuang, who was also present, thanked the Ministry of Steel Development, under Audu’s leadership, for striving for the revitalisation of the steel sector in the country. In the same vein, the minister paid working visits to Proforce Defence Solutions in Ode Remo and Epail Nigeria Plant in Mowe, both in Ogun State. The visits are aligned with the Federal Government’s push for local production of military hardware and the proposed development of a military industrial complex within the Ajaokuta Steel Complex. Speaking at Proforce Nigeria Limited, the minister said that the President has also repeatedly stated the importance of having a military industrial complex to help improve the security situation in the country. According to him, having a military industrial complex in Ajaokuta with local capacity to produce military hardware is extremely critical. Mr Ayo Ogundeyin, Managing Director of Proforce, commended the minister for his dedication to reviving the steel sector and affirmed that with support from the Ministry, Nigeria could become Africa’s top defence manufacturing hub. At Epail Nigeria, the minister applauded the company’s use of advanced technology in defence production and reaffirmed the government’s readiness to collaborate in support of its operations. Dr. Kola Balogun, Chairman of Epail Nigeria, also called for stronger collaboration with the Ministry, highlighting the essential role of steel in defence production. He advocated for a licensing framework to support and regulate private military equipment manufacturers in the country.

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Friday met with the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Abuja, as speculations grow over Kwankwaso’s possible return to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Both political figures were sighted together shortly after attending Jumaat prayers at a mosque in the nation’s capital. According to a report by The Nation, El-Rufai was accompanied by his eldest son, Hon. Bello El-Rufai, when he exchanged pleasantries with the former Kano State governor. This meeting is coming at a time when reports suggest that Kwankwaso may have reached a fresh political understanding with President Bola Tinubu, a move that could see him, along with his loyal political supporters, rejoin the ruling APC. Political analysts believe that if Kwankwaso eventually returns to the APC, it would significantly strengthen President Tinubu’s chances of securing victory in the 2027 presidential election, considering Kwankwaso’s considerable grassroots following, especially in the North.

In recent weeks, confusion has gripped several political parties following Supreme Court rulings that courts lack jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of political parties. Since the decisions, Nigeria’s two main opposition parties — the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) — have faced intensified internal turmoil. While the PDP struggles to resolve the tussle over its National Secretary position, the Labour Party is embroiled in a battle between two factions, each claiming the National Chairmanship. The Supreme Court rulings have drawn sharp reactions. Some Nigerians argue that the decisions have deepened leadership crises, while others fear that shielding party affairs from judicial scrutiny could breed dictatorship within political parties. Saturday Sun sought the views of eminent legal minds on the unfolding situation. No Law Can Eradicate Fair Hearing — Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, warned that the Supreme Court’s decisions should not be seen as absolute. “There is a limit to what political party officers can do within the law,” Sagay explained. “When actions contravene constitutional principles, such as the right to fair hearing, they cannot be insulated from judicial scrutiny.” He criticized the apex court for failing to set necessary boundaries, arguing that party officials must not operate in an unchecked, wild manner. Supreme Court Ruling Could Create More Injustice — Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, noted that the court’s reliance on the “political question doctrine” — which holds that courts should stay out of political disputes — is becoming problematic in Nigeria’s context. “In Nigeria, where internal democracy is glaringly absent and parties are often controlled by a few individuals, it’s dangerous to give political parties absolute autonomy,” Ozekhome warned. He suggested that the Supreme Court should introduce practice directions to specify the kinds of internal party disputes courts can entertain. Ozekhome advised the PDP and LP to seek interpretation of the rulings through originating summons at the High Court or Federal High Court — a process he said could clarify who is lawfully in charge without violating the Supreme Court’s stance. Parties That Can’t Manage Internal Issues Are Unfit to Govern — Dave Ajetomobi, Ex-NBA Ikeja Chairman Former NBA Ikeja Branch Chairman, Dave Ajetomobi, emphasized that political parties must resolve internal conflicts independently. He asserted, “Any political party that cannot manage its internal affairs has no business governing the country.” Ajetomobi called on the PDP and LP to return to the Supreme Court for clarification to avoid further confusion. Judiciary Must Deliver Decisive Judgments — Chijioke Ifenkwe Rights activist and lawyer, Chijioke Ifenkwe, criticized the Supreme Court for what he described as “inconsistency and reluctance” to make definitive rulings in politically sensitive cases. He lamented that the judiciary’s failure to act decisively is undermining public confidence and deepening political instability. “It’s unfortunate that even the courts, once seen as the last hope for justice, now appear compromised or hesitant in politically charged cases,” Ifenkwe said. No Ambiguity in Supreme Court Verdict — Maduka Onwukeme Legal practitioner and rights activist, Maduka Onwukeme, argued that the Supreme Court’s position is clear: courts lack jurisdiction to affirm leadership disputes within political parties. According to Onwukeme, confusion persists because losing parties continue to deliberately misinterpret the rulings to serve their personal interests. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that seeking an official interpretation from the Supreme Court could help bring finality to the matter. Supreme Court Was Right to Bar Courts From Political Party Affairs — Gideon Okebu Lawyer and activist, Gideon Okebu, defended the Supreme Court’s reasoning, noting that courts should not involve themselves in internal party matters unless fundamental rights or constitutional provisions are violated. “Political parties are voluntary associations that should be allowed to set and follow their own rules, provided they do not violate national laws,” Okebu said. He maintained that disgruntled members dissatisfied with their party’s internal decisions should simply switch parties rather than seek court intervention. PDP, LP Crises Can Still Be Resolved Through Courts — Kabir Akingbolu Human rights lawyer Kabir Akingbolu insisted that while not all internal party disputes are justiciable, cases involving violations of party constitutions or the law are actionable. He explained that courts would still intervene where a party’s internal processes violate constitutional principles, as was seen in landmark cases like Amaechi vs INEC. Akingbolu emphasized that although courts should avoid meddling unnecessarily, they retain the power to step in where injustice is proven within a political party’s processes. Conclusion Legal experts agree that while the Supreme Court’s intent is to reduce judicial overreach into political party matters, a balance must be struck to protect fundamental rights and uphold internal democracy. The PDP and Labour Party have several legal options to resolve their leadership crises — including seeking judicial interpretation of the Supreme Court’s rulings — but ultimately, parties must strengthen their internal mechanisms to avoid such conflicts in the future.