Mohammed Shosanya
The Civil Society Organisation Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company,has celebrated President Bola Tinubu’s strides in the steel sector three months after he took over the mantle of leadership.
The strides manifested during the President’s recent visit to India for the G20 World leaders meeting,the coalitions said in a statement made available to Premium News on Sunday.
Mohammed Bougei Attah,National Coordinator,Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, Abuja,Otunba Dele Ajayi-Smith,President, Africa Citizens Development Foundation, Lagos and,Barr. Clifford Thomas,
Executive DirectorFoundation for Civic Education, Human Rights, and Development Advancement, Uyo,signed the statement.
The coalition noted that earlier last month,President Tinubu sent a delegation, led by the Vice President, Sen. Bukar Abba Shetima to the Russia-Africa Summit where Ajaokuta was the main point of the visit.
The statement added:”We salute the “Can Do Spirit” of President Tinubu and celebrate his achievements in just three months in office.The President in a single stroke has brought great fortune to Nigeria with US$14bn pledge of Foreign Direct Investment, FDI to Nigeria.
“We look forward to his future visits to the UN General Assembly later this month, to US and other Industrialized Nations in the coming months and hope Ajaokuta revival continue to take Centre stage.
“Our immediate shared fortune is the pledged of US$3bn by Jindal Steel and Power of India. The Coalition trustfully hope, that this will bring upliftment to the long-term aspiration of the Nigerian Civil Society movement to see Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mills working again, which was abandoned at 95% completion stage since 1994”
The statement quoted the coalitions as commending the President for creating a new Ministry of Steel Development as a stand alone and for appointing Prince Abubakar Audu to head the Ministry.
They emphasized the need to inspire and promote personal and collective responsibility towards ensuring the growth, development and sustainability of the steel sector of the country.
They noted that,apart from the production of iron, steel, other valuable products that will be available in the course of operation of Ajaokuta Steel Plant will include about 110MW electricity, hydrogen, 35000 cubic meter of oxygen per hour, nitrogen, argon, coke oven gas, sulphuric acid.
The statement added:”We are aware that major industrialised nations do not want Nigeria to achieve her steel goal, which will also bring numerous forms of multiplier effects on the economic of the country, but the table must turn at this time in favour of Nigeria and Africa.
