However, many proposals presented by foreign companies were less enthused on steel production due to concerns about local technical know how and market demand.
But in 1967, a technical group from the Soviet Union proposed the use of direct blast furnace process as a viable method of production in the country.
Further exploration of iron ore deposits by Soviet firm Technopromexport yielded commercial quantities around the Itakpe region of present Kogi State.
[2] The rolling mill in Jos was constructed by a consortium of German firms; Mannesmann Demag, AEG Telefunken, Ofenbau Union and Bilfinger + Berger.
The government and the builders signed a technical assistance programme to train workers who will later takeover daily operations of the mill.