Chief Ahmed Haruna Osike is a human rights activist and the national liaising officer, Licence Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN). In this interview with OYIBO SALIHU, he frowns at the delay in reviving Ajaokuta steel Company on the excuse of Covid-19 pandemic.
The revitalisation of Ajaokuta Steel Company seems to be delaying, what is your comment?
The federal government recently took a bold step aimed at resuscitating the ailing plant abandoned for over 40 years by successive administration. President Buhari’s political will to see that the giant steel comes back to life was greeted with loud ovation by Nigerians, but regrettably since March 2020 the enthusiasm of the federal government became very low and practically at the lowest ebb. It is apparent that there is covid-19 pandemic across the globe, but China where the pandemic originated from and other countries badly affected by the disease continue to improve in their economy. More industries continue to grow in China during this covid-19 period. Sadly, the federal government seems to have allowed the outbreak of covid-19 to dissuade the plans for the resuscitation of the plant which is not healthy for the nation. We are worried because the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari who had developed interest to inject life into the plant is fast running out and there is need for the project to be completed before the end of the current administration. Many foreigners are still working in Nigeria and Covid-19 did not kill them. We believe that if the Russian engineers come to Nigeria today, nothing would happen to them too. So it is dangerous to abandon the project because of this pandemic. Other killer diseases such as HIV AIDS, Ebola, Lassa fever and many more also came in the recent past and the federal government did not surrender our economy to those diseases and as such we should not succumb or surrender totally for covid-19 pandemic by abandoning what we should do to better the future of this nation. And going by government’s earlier commitment to the early completion of the steel project, Nigerians expected that by now the Russians experts should have arrived at the plant to commence work on the reactivation of the industry, but till now the plan seems to be stagnated. That is not good at all.
What are the likely benefits of the complex to the country?
First and foremost, it is an open secret that no nation can attain the desired development both technologically and economically without iron and steel, and God in his infinite mercy gave us this ingredient of development and we seems to be toying with it. Secondly, the crude oil that was the mainstay of our country’s economy is no longer viable as the price of crude has crashed in the world market. So looking inward for alternative sources of income becomes very necessary and germane in the interest of the country. It is a known fact that if the complex is completed and operational, it would serve as a great foreign exchange earner to the country. The employment opportunities alone would enable the federal government to engage the teeming unemployed youths and this would invariable reduce youth restiveness and also wipe away crimes associated with idleness. If the company is operating at full capacity, it can create over 15,000 jobs aside the subsidiary companies that would evolve. So, abandoning the steel plant would certainly be a big risk to this nation because of its enormity to the country.
What advice do you have for the federal government on the necessity of the steel?
Honestly, Ajaokuta steel complex still remains the hope of Nigerians in jobs creation and revenue generation. The possibility of giving Nigerian youth jobs a bright future cannot be achieved without due consideration for the completion of the ailing industry. That is why we are appealing to President Buhari not to jettison his earlier plans and commitment towards resuscitating the plant.Obviously, If Ajaokuta Steel Company is operational, the credit would go to President Buhari’s administration and it will be an unforgettable legacy and as such he should not allow or use covid-19 as an excuse to forget his plans of revamping of the company. The steel company is the property of Nigeria and as such, Nigerians should continue to appeal to the president to do the needful. It does not belong to Kogi people alone; it is the property of all Nigerians and the benefit would be enjoyed by all.
