Folasade Olayinka Ifamose

In recognition of the place of iron and steel in national development, this study investigates the major constraints faced by Nigeria in developing a viable steel industry. It examines the formulation and implementation of industrial policies in Nigeria, using the Ajaokuta Steel Complex (ASC) as a case study. This work places issues in policy formulation and implementation in broad historical context, a context that extends beyond Nigeria. To arrive at a significant conclusion, a systematic methodological framework is employed. This framework enables a comparative analysis of the events in the steel sector in Nigeria and other parts of the world, especially LDCs, that at one time or another embarked on iron and steel projects. The work asserts that there is no validity in speculation that international conspiracy, lack of capital (which in any case was not applicable to ASC at the early stage of implementation), or the choice of technology were responsible for the failure of ASC at implementation. Rather, the project suffered from a dearth of experienced managers, lack of technicians, and the endemic corruption that has plagued Nigerian society since independence in 1960.