Protesters Storm Abuja Call for Revival of Ajaokuta

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Protesters on Wednesday storm the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja calling on the federal government (FG) to revive the moribund Ajaokuta and Itape steel industries.

The Ajaokuta/ Itape revival movement is a component of the Nigerian alliance for industrial revolution and advancement of the Naira, a group of Nigerian youths from all over the country, that was formed with the sole purpose of leveraging on our vast human and natural resources to grow Nigeria from a 3rd world country to an industrialized nation.

The protesters called on President Muhammadu Buhari to forthwith personally handle all businesses relating to Ajaokuta/Itape Iron Ore and Steel Plants as a way of cutting out cabal, thereby getting first hand information on the processes and procedures involved in its revival.

The protesters also demanded that the President set up a high powered delegation to meet the President of Russia Mr. Vladimir Putin to open bilateral talks that include finding ways of bringing back the original builders of the plant to complete the remaining 2 per cent for the plant to take off.

They further demanded that President Buhari should terminate forthwith any agreement with Global Infrastructure Limited (GINL) and that the Company be declared persona non grata in Nigeria.

It was gathered that the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) is probably one of the most ignored multifunctional projects in Nigeria’s history. Regrettably successive leaders have continued a deliberate gang-rape and slow, painful death it has come to experience.

The gigantic plant was conceived to be built as far back as 1971 when the Federal Government, under the then military head of state General Yakubu Gowon, passed into law decree No.19 establishing the Nigerian Steel Development Authority (NSDA), a body saddled with the responsibility of establishing a steel industry in Nigeria.

The political will was evidenced by the fast pace with which the NSDA got to work. Between 1971 and 1979, they had submitted Preliminary Project report (PPR), Detailed Project Report (DPR) and the Global Contract.

Culled from Daily Trust

Photo Credit: Natasha Akpoti


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