I will Soon Send Ajaokuta Completion Plan to Presidency – Senator Abatemi

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A proposal for the phased completion of the troubled Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State will soon be sent to the Presidency.

Sen. Nurudeen Abatemi, representing Kogi Central in the Upper legislative chamber, made the declaration after an inspection tour of the steel complex that the proposal would ensure adequate funding needed for the completion of the company within three years.

He expressed regret that the nation had yet to enjoy any returns from the $5 billion investment in the company over the years.

Abatemi expressed shock that the company and the National Iron Ore Mining Company at Itakpe, Kogi could be allowed to waste away since 2009. He promised to work “with other progressive-minded senators to ensure that the company reopens for business as soon as possible’’.

The senator, who was conducted round the company by some workers, stressed the importance of the two companies to the growth and development of the nation’s economy.

He said that the transformation agenda of the present administration would not be complete without a vibrant steel sector, and commended the workers for their patience and perseverance, while urging them to remain calm as government was making efforts to reopen the companies.

“The Ajaokuta Steel Project is one that the Federal Government cannot continue to pay lukewarm attention to. That project has about 11 fully fledged companies within it and this company when put to optimal utilisation is capable of generating over 40,000 jobs for the local population. “The administration of President Obasanjo, as we were told, spent about $4.5 billion and now the complex only requires about $500million to bring it to completion. Certainly, this is a project that has the capacity to generate some megawatts of electricity and which would ultimately be a major contributor to the national grid. The President has talked about his transformational agenda and so I am appealing to him to see to the completion of this project in the life time of his administration. We all want a transformed nation. This is the only way to bequeath a befitting legacy to posterity,” Abatemi said.


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