Lack of funding and raw materials have been identified as major factors militating against growth of Ajaokuta steel company over the years.
Alhaji Muhammed Abbas, the permanent secretary at the federal ministry of mines and steel development stated this in Kano at a workshop on stimulation and promotion of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) for the northwest zone.
Abbas told reporters shortly after the worshop that more is required beyond mere establishment to sustain any industry of Ajaokuta steel magnitude, stressing that out of about 6-7 raw materials needed for efficient utilisation of the company, only 2 are available in the country, hence its current travails.
He however disclosed that government is making frantic efforts to revive the industry for maximum utilisation.
Engineer Fidelis O. the CEO of the Cast Master Steel Company in Kano, who was one of the speakers at the workshop, decried the development in metal industry, urging government to ban exportation of scrapped metals in order to feed the home industries.
Credit: Daily Trust
