Ajaokuta will breathe fresh air again — Audu ,Minister of Steel.
ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA.
The Administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his priority is how to ensure that Ajaokuta steel company is revamped and revitalised to meet the yearning of the founding fathers.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar-Audu disclosed this at his two day official visit to the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and Iron Ore company, Itakpe yesterday.
He said with the determination of the present administration, a road map of short , medium and long term would be fashioned to ensure that the steel complex and other steel industry are brought back on Steam for the Industrial take off the country.
He added that the steel company on completion is capable of generating over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs which will uplift the teeming unemployed Nigerians out of poverty.
“We want to thank President Bola Tinubu for having the vision to create a Steel Development Ministry
”Over the past 40 years, we had the largest Steel Plant in Nigeria and one of the largest West Africa which has not functioned.
”But the President knows that in order to industrialise Nigeria, we have to get the steel industry working,” he said.
He pledged his commitment to ensure the production of steel from the multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta steel company, in three-year plan.
Abubakar-Audu said that the visit was aimed at getting a first-hand knowledge of the problems stopping production in the company in a bid to proffering solutions.
He said that President Bola Tinubu had also taken interest in the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Complex by appointing him as the pioneer Minister to show the world the importance of Steel Development to Industrialization.
According to him, in line with the key point agenda of ‘Renewed Hope’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some of the key elements are job creation, diversification of the economy and to attract Foreign Direct Investment.
”If we are able to revitalize Ajaokuta, it will help us achieve this. This key point agenda will also help us eradicate poverty.
“To achieve this, we have put together two documents. A three-year plan for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company which will have a Small and Medium Term Plan.
“Part of the things is the roadmap to designate the 24,000 hectares land of Ajaokuta an Industrial Park, to create a Free Trade Zone that will further attract Foreign Direct Investment,” he said.
He said that his job was to ensure that all those typical issues that held the plant from producing be resolved.
”And by the first term of this administration, if we are able to produce some sheet of steel, it will be a significant achievement.
“I have taken an extensive tour of the complex and plants, and there are lots of opportunities that if we are able to unlock we will be able to create over 500,000 jobs, which ill benefit kogites a bit more importantly, Nigerians.
”This will also guarantee that everyone benefits from the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “ Audu said.
