Fast track completion of Ajaokuta, steel association tells FG

Members of the African Iron and Steel Association have called on the federal government of Nigeria, to expedite action on completion of the multi dollars Iron and Steel rolling mill in Ajaokuta, Kogi state.

The Deputy Secretary General of the Association , Dr Solomon Femi Adeyemo, made the call on Saturday in Abuja at the sideline of Letter of Credence given to him by the Public Office Holders of Nigeria (POHAN).

Dr Adeyemo in making the call, said though the present administration has taken some steps in the right direction towards completion of the Steel Rolling Mill, but such actions need to be fast tracked in the interest of the Nation’s economy.

Iron and Steel according to him, is the bedrock of industrialisation and development in any country which Ajaokuta offers for the country.

He said since the time of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration between 1999 and 2007 to the present one headed by President Muhamnadu Buhari, African Iron and Steel Association ,has been interfacing with government on the need to complete the Industrial cum development – driven projects.

He said, “Steel is the bedrock of every development in any country go to China, go to Asian countries where we have Steel industries that are working they put them to use, even the per capita income of China at a time was measured by the Steel that they produce so you see.there cannot be any meaningful development in any country without Steel. it is not possible.it

“We had a committee that was set up by world Steel Association and we called it sustainability study group, I was part of that sustainability study group and we found out that there is nobody who goes out that has no element of Steel on him, there is no way any person will dress up and.there is no element of Steel on him or her.

“Check your Biro, your button, some of the designs on your cloths etc, so Steel is so important that we carry it along with us anytime, anyway and everywhere we are.

“Imagine that about 200m people in Nigeria are carrying one product of Steel in one form or the order. Think of the level of production, think of the products and think of the economy benefits for the country as regards GDP growth rate , jobs and wealth creation etc.”

Industrially accordimg to him, he added that the Complex when completed, has multiplier effects being an integrated one.

“There are other industries that are tied to this Steel complex. It is an integrated Steel complex that is very strategic to the development of the country.

“This is the more reason why we are concerned about its completion by making repeated calls to government at all times,” he said.

He added that though none of their members is included in the Committee set up by government for completion of the project but they are ever ready to give their expertise advice to the committee at anytime.

“Though non of us from African Iron and steel Association is a member of the Committee set up by the present administration to see to the completion of the project but we believe in the members to deliver being mostly Engineers.

“We have infact , written to the Federal Government to congratulate them for taking that bold step and the feedback from.the committee is that, thank you very much for the congratulatory and they agreed to get back to us when they need our inputs.

“So we hope that the committee is going to work objectively and that they are going to call those who knows something about this thing to come and chip in their own strategic idea or professional knowledge.

“Our belief and prayer is that the Muhamnadu Buhari led government will break the jinx of several decades through completion of the very important project,” he added.

Earlier, in the presentation of Certificate of Credence to Dr Adeyemo by POHAN, the President of the association, Bashorun Moses Eseyin, said it was done in the recognition of Adeyemo’s uncommon performance as a worthy and Patriotic Public Office Holder in Nigeria.

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