By Bode Olagoke
The ongoing National Conference Committee on Science and Technology yesterday revealed at the plenary that the abandoned Ajaokuta Steel project required just $1.2 billion to come on stream.
Chairman of the committee Dr. Daniel Maddo, said this as he presented the report of his committee for consideration and adoption.
Maddo said that the conference should mandate the Federal Government to provide the sum needed to complete the steel complex.
Apart from the $500 million, Maddo said that delegates should ask the government to provide additional $700 million for infrastructure required by the steel plant to fast-track the acquisition of skills in the fabrication and foundry industry.
The committee chairman said that it was necessary for the government to provide the funds in view of the billions of dollars already spent on the project.
Most delegates who contributed agreed with the committee that the steel plant should be revamped to boost the economic well being of the country.
They also agreed that if revitalized, the Ajaokuta Steel Complex had the capacity to turn around the economic life of the country.
