FG Must Complete Ajaokuta Steel Company

WORRIED over the current state of the multi-billion-dollar Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) in Kogi State, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, has tasked the Federal Government to muster the political will to ensure that the project is completed and put into use.Abatemi-Usman, who represents Kogi Central in the Senate, during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the African Iron and Steel Association, (AISA), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi in Abuj a, said that that completing the project would create millions of jobs for Nigerian youths,A statement by Michael Jegede, his media aide in Abuja at the weekend, said the meeting, which was one of the series of interactions with stakeholders in the steel sector, was held at Abatemi Usman's office, preparatory to his formal presentation of the Ajaokuta Steel issue on the floor of the Senate.But the Senator, who is a member of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), said he was happy that the current Minister of Mines and Steel, Mohammed Sada, was equally showing a great level of commitment towards completing the Ajaokuta Steel Company.'After spending about $5billion (US) on the Ajaokuta Steel, why is the government finding it difficult to finish the project, which requires just about 10 percent of the amount spent so far for it to be completed' Ajaokuta was concessioned, but something was wrong with the concession and it was reverted. Therefore, the government has no choice other than to commence the process of completing the project in the interest of the country,' he said.Re-iterating his commitment towards steel development in Nigeria during the meeting, the Senator maintained that the government must attach utmost importance to the issue of Ajaokuta Steel due to its significance to the growth and development of the country's economy.'There can be no growth in the economy if you do not develop the steel industry. We cannot have proper diversification in the economy if the potentials in the steel industry are not fully harnessed,' he noted.The former Special Assistant (SA) to Dimeji Bankole, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, further noted that overhauling the steel industry would provide jobs for millions of Nigerians.
Click here to read full news..