Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Minister of Mine and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite and Minister for state, Engr Uchechukwu Oga paid a working visit to the National Iron Mining Corporation (NIOMCO) in Itakpe, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
While expressing joy over the planned resuscitation of the steel industry, Governor Bello commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the recently signed Government-Government bilateral agreement with Russia in Sochi to commence reactivation of Ajaokuta Steel Company.
Governor Bello who described President Muhammadu Buhari as a promise keeper stated that the nation will benefit more in the areas of guaranteed local supply of steel material, employment generation, conservation and increased foreign exchange earning through import substitution, human capital development and reduction in crimes when Ajaokuta is up and running.
“I discussed with our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari about the most pressing issue bothering our people; the Ajaokuta Steel Company. His Excellency President Buhari promised us in January when he came to campaign that he will make Ajaokuta Steel Company work if re-elected. Today, the whole world can see that that statement was not a vacuous soothing word for political gain but a sincere promise that is being kept. We thank Mr President, the honourable ministers and the management and staff of NIOMCO for their patriotism”, the Governor said.
Earlier, the Honourable Minister of Mine and Steel Development Arc Olamilekan Adegbite noted that the steel industry was the bedrock of the developed and developing nations across the world.
He disclosed that work will commence on Ajaokuta in less than 3 months. Arc Adegbite noted if Itakpe does not work Ajaokuta and Aladja rolling mill can’t come up and gave assurances that Itakpe will be fixed immediately before Ajaokuta while noting that funding will not be a challenge.
The NIOMCO’s corporate objectives are to explore, exploit, process and supply the local Iron Ore reserves for the Nigerian Steel Industry, especially the 100% Ajaokuta Steel Company iron ore concentrate requirement and the 40% of superconcentrate of the Delta Steel Company’s requirement, amounting to 2.15 million tonnes and 550,000 tonnes, respectively.
