Respite seems to be
Respite seems to be on the way for the 41 years old Ajaokuta
Steel plant as the Hon. Minister of Mines and Steel Development,
Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite and National Assembly reiterated
commitment towards completion of the Steel plant.
The Minister, while addressing the Senate leaders on over-sight
visit to Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and National Iron
Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) on Thursday, July 23, 2020 said both
the Executive and the Legislature would ensure that Ajaokuta Steel
Company is revived and made operational.
He appreciated the Senate leaders for their support, “I commend
members of the committee for their encouragement and support. There
is a bright future for all Nigerians when the complex is restored
and starts producing at its optimal installed capacity”.
The minister noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had limited
government’s ability to go forward on the Ajaokuta Steel project,
saying that it was four to five months behind its planned schedule
to revive the complex.
This, he said, was specifically because Russian experts who were
to undertake the complex’s technical audit could not come into the
country because of the corona virus pandemic and the ban on
international flights. He noted that the complexity of the Ajaokuta
Steel Company would make an online audit impossible as people had
to be physically present.
He added that the technical audit that was being planned for
Ajaokuta Steel Company by the Federal Government would also be done
at NIOMCO. “We have the same purpose and we are focused that this
project is delivered to the benefit of Nigerians, the people of
Kogi and to the glory of God,” he said.
.
He said the Federal Government sees NIOMCO and Ajaokuta Steel
Company as a conjoined-twin that could not be separated and that
the Federal Government would rely on money pledged by Russians and
Afrexim bank to fix both Ajaokuta Steel Complex and NIOMCO.
Adegbite, said both the Executive and the Legislature would
ensure that ASCL and NIOMCO become operational before long.
“We have the same purpose and we are focused that this project
is delivered to the benefit of Nigerians, the people of Kogi and to
the glory of God,” he emphasized.
The Senate Leader, Sen Abdulahi Yahaya who was accompanied by
the Senate Committee Chairman on Solid Mineral, Mines, Steel
Development and Metallurgy, Sen. Tanks Al-Makura and other Senate
leaders said National Assembly would ensure that efforts of
President Muhammadu Buhari to revive ASCL and NIOMCO come to
fruition.
In the same vein, the Committee Chairman, Sen. Tanko Almakura,
said Senate leaders were on a fact finding mission in the State to
ascertain the situation of things at ASCL and NIOMCO and ensure
they commence production within shortest possible time
Sen Al-Makura said the technical audit remains paramount and
cardinal towards the successful take off of ASCL and NIOMCO.
Earlier in his speech, the Kogi State Deputy Governor, Edward
Onoja who received the delegations on behalf of the State Governor
expressed hope that with the renewed commitment of the Federal
Government to resuscitate Ajaokuta Steel Company, it would be fully
operational before the tenure of the present administration
ends.
The Sole Administrator of NIOMCO, Itakpe, Mr. Augustus Nkechika
while receiving the delegations stressed the need to fully complete
the rehabilitation of the company’s plants and acquire additional
mining equipment before the planned resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel
Company by the Federal Government.
Nkechika said NIOMCO’s mandate to provide basic raw materials
for iron and steel production makes it strategic to the country as
the company is expected to supply Ajaokuta Steel Company with 2.15
million tonnes of iron ore concentrate and other raw materials.
The Sole Administrator of Ajaokuta, Engr. Sumaila Akaaba is
hopeful that the completion of Ajaokuta would be realistic before
the end of President Buhari’s regime as he said the commitment of
the present administration to making the steel plant work is
unrivalled.
The Ajaokuta Steel complex conceived in 1976, was aimed at
establishing a metallurgical process plant and engineering complex
with other facilities which is meant to generate important upstream
and downstream industrial and economic activities that are critical
to the industrialization of Nigeria.
Idowu Jokpeyibo
For: Director Press