The senator representing Kogi central senatorial district, Senator Ahmed Ogembe, has called on all major stakeholders to intensify efforts in ensuring that Ajaokuta Steel Company commences operation as soon as possible.
Ogembe made the call at a public interaction held on Thursday at the National Assembly to discuss the restructuring of Ajaokuta steel company.
The senator said all necessary efforts must be put in place in ensuring that the company takes off as soon as possible, in order to boost the socio-economic activities of Kogi State and the nation.
Ogembe noted that the issues of Ajaokuta company only requires the necessary political will to bring it back to full operations.
He, therefore, expressed optimism of the actualisation of the take-off of the project for the creation of job opportunity for the teeming unemployed youth in the state.
The senator promised to collaborate with other national Assembly members from Kogi state to appeal to all stakeholders involved to make sure that the company works for the betterment of the entire Nigerians.
Ogembe, however, urged the Federal and State Governments to show their commitment by releasing the necessary fund needed for the rehabilitation of the steel company.
Other key note speakers at the interactive session includes: the representative of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Workers Union leaders, Ebira Youth leaders and Ukrainian company.
The sole administrator of Ajaokuta Steel Company Issah Enebere, said if the government can invest money on five unit out of the 43 Units in the company, remaining 38 unit will also work.
He said if the government can invest N80 Billion on the medium structure melt, it can generate a turnover of $760 million per annum.
He stated further that an investment of N6.5 billion will generate 110 megawatts of electricity and an income of N18.7 billion which will make the power sector to be fully operational and it will ensure 24 hours supply of electricity to the company and environs. Electricity that would be produced by the firm could power the entire 43 plants in the complex when fully operational and also supply power to three states, including Kogi.
The medium structural steel has the capacity to produce 10 thousand kilometres of rail track across Nigeria. He added that the light mill section of the plant, which would require N43 billion to become functional, could produce 400,000 tonnes of steel yearly at full capacity which will generate a yearly income of N80billion.
The 5 units out of the 43 units when fully operational will generate $1billion per annum which is about N365billion with the current exchange rate.
He said that the firm would present a business plan to the Federal Government to be included in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed with the Chinese government on the construction of two major rail tracks across the country.
He also debunked claims that equipment installed in the edifice was obsolete.
Mr Baba Razak, the leader of Ebira Youth Congress (EYC), said they wanted the Ajaokuta steel company back in operation so that the youth of the State could get employed.
He said the group was there to assert themselves with the involvement of the company so that it would not be left alone for the government to do.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Ben Bruce promised to organise another hearing as the issue of Ajaokuta cannot be discussed in one day, promising to do his best in revamping the company.
