Steel Development: Community leader hails Tinubu resuscitating Ajaokuta Steel Coy
By Idris Ahmed
A renown community leader from Kogi Central senatorial district, Chief Haruna Ahmed Osike, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the steps taken so far towards revitalization of the ailing Ajaokuta steel company.
The steel plant went comatose since 1990 under the former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida
Osike, urged the Federal Government to disregard selfish and unpatriotic elements calling for outright privatization of the promising economic potential.
He also advised the President to be wary of naysayers who may wish to distract him from achieving his plans for the steel plant.
READ ALSO: Villa thrash woeful Sheff Utd to move into top four
Chief Osike, who was one time governorship candidate on the platform of the defunct Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) in old Kwara State during the Second Republic, barred his mind in an interview with Journalists recently in Okene.
He noted that the appointment of Minister of Steel Development from Kogi State shows that the President is desirous of injecting life into the ailing Ajaokuta steel industry and urged Nigerians to give support for his success.
“The first step President Tinubu took that impressed many people was the appointment of an indigene of Kogi State Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu as Minister of the largest steel industry in Africa to help in revamping the company.
“The Minister, Permanent Secretary of the steel ministry and the Sole Administrator of the steel industry Engr. Sumail Akaba have been passing through sleepless nights working assiduously to ensure Ajaokuta Steel Company commence production.
“This formidable team is ready to sacrifice their comfort to achieve result for Ajaokuta steel company, therefore none of these eminent personalities should be changed or removed for any reason. Whoever is calling for removal of the Sole Administrator has a sinister plan against the steel industry and we will not support such plan” he stated.
While calling on the national assembly not to relent in their effort at giving useful advise to the federal government for the revitalization of Ajaokuta Steel Company, Chief Osike, urged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial district where the steel company is sited, to contribute ideas that will help the federal government and not an advise that will further move the industry backward.
Chief Osike said “The National Assembly should be proactive on the issues of Ajaokuta steel company because if it is functioning, it will create jobs for the millions of Nigerian youth roaming about without job”
