Jonathan assures on functional steel industry

PRESIDENT GoodluckJonathan has assuredthat his administra-tion remains committed to establishing a viable and functional steel industry in Nigeria.He gave the assurance on Monday, at a meeting with Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State and other state government officials, just before he took part in the grand finale of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial cam-paign in Lokoja.Jonathan said the Fe-deral Government would make the Ajaokuta Steel Complex fully operational, because the Vision 20:2020 would remain unattain-able without a functional steel industry in the country.According to him, 'our dream of Vision 20:2020 will be an illusion if we do not develop our steel sector. We are totally committed to the Ajaokuta Steel Project. It is not a project for Kogi alone. It is a project for all Nigerians.'We are inviting manufacturers to set up factories in Nigeria and we know that we must come up with appropriate economic policies, such as prioritising the develop-ment of our steel sector, to create conditions that will encourage the expansion of the industrial base of our economy and the produ-ction of more goods in our country.'The president, respon-ding to request by Governor Idris for more action by the Federal Government on the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, added that his admini-stration would also conti-nue to explore all viable options to boost employ-ment in the country.Jonathan also inaugu-rated some projects under-taken by the state govern-ment and pledged that the Federal Government would work with the state government to 'preserve the historical value of Lokoja.
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