FG TO REVITALISE AJAOKUTA FOR INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION – STEEL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER
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Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu has reiterated Federal Government’s committment to ensure that Ajaokuta Steel Plant begin production for the industrialization of the country, create jobs and wealth as well as attract foreign direct investment.
The Hon. Minister who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mary A Ogbe, on a 3-day working visit, made this known during his maiden tour of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant on Wednesday, in Kogi State.
Prince Audu revealed that the Ministry of Steel Development is working on a Road Map that will contain a 3-Year Revival Plan for the Revitalisation of Ajaokuta Steel Plant as well as contain recommendation to designate the Plant Area as an Industrial Park that would be a Free Trade Zone to attract local and international investors.
He noted that in line with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the administration is committed to ensure that the Steel Plant which has been moribund for about 45 years is resuscitated and begin production before the end of it’s tenure, noting that the Plant when revived, would be beneficial to all as it will create about 500 thousand jobs for the teeming Nigeria youths.
Speaking further, Prince Audu stated that the purpose of the facility visit was to ascertain the operational and none operational level of the Plant and make recommendations on how to turn the Plant around to begin to production, noting that production of steel sheets from the Ajaokuta Steel Plant would be a significant achievement for the administration, a feat that has not been achieved in over 45 years.
The Hon. Minister disclosed that though the task to get the Plant running is an arduous one, he solicited the support of all stakeholders, stating that with the support and sincerity of purpose of all stakeholders, success would be achieved.
In his welcome address, the Sole Administrator, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Engr. Sumaila Abdul-Akab, said the working visit would afford the Minister and Permanent Secretary first- hand information and investment opportunities that abound in the Plant.
Engr. Sumaila noted that the benefits that would accrue from the completed and operationalised Plant cannot be overemphasized, stating that the nation’s revenue generation from the project, when completed, commissioned and operational will have a huge impact on the accruals to the Federation Account as well as help galvanize development in Kogi as the host State and Nigeria in general.
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