Call for the breeding pen to promote the revitalization process of Ajaokuta steel company limited national iron ore mining company Itakpe, Kogi state being led by Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu
This is a clarion call to all Nigerians to reflect back on some of the historical foundation of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and its current situation. It wil be detrimental to all if we deny where we were before at this particular point in time and where we will be in the nearest future.
The strategic importance of the iron and steel industry to the industrial and technological development of Nigeria was first appreciated by the Federal Government in 1958. The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regime’s paramount interest in the establishment of rolling mill had to shift to the establishment of an integrated iron and steel plant as a result of the availability of coal, iron ore and other relevant raw material deposits in various parts of the country.
Consequently, the federal government of Nigeria between 1960 and 1967 invited and received many proposals from different western and other international countries.
The integrated steel power plant was commissioned under the administration of Alh. Shehu Shagari, acknowledging iron and steel as the bedrock of industrialization.
After Tyazhpromexport (TPE) left the company at about 98% completion in 2002. The company had been inoperative; Government after Government, before President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration who had Government to Government negotiation with Russian Government to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited as the bedrock of the nation. However all efforts were not materialized as a result of covid-19 pandemic and political saboteurs at the time.
Certainly, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration vehemently believe a nation without steel industry will fall behind as an economic hub. There-in he created Ministry of steel development to manage the affairs of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
The recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Russian Consortium, led by the original builders of Ajaokuta Steel Plant, Tyazhpromexport (TPE), including Novostal M and Proforce Manifacturing Limited, for the rehabilitation and completion of Ajaokuta Steel Plant, is indeed a positive development, a dream come true for many Nigerians who already tagged the plant as a white-elephant or failed project.
For this bold action, we are very proud of the Honourable Minister, and we believe in his capacity to steer the plant’s resuscitation project. Therefore, as a joint union, we will not sit down and allow saboteurs of all kinds, doomsday analysts, political jobbers and their agents to scheme their ways in to stall this project from coming to light. It is time for everyone to keep their vested interests aside and focus on what is best for Nigeria.
Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu is a man who knows how to get the job done. Based on his innovative ideas and experience as a leader and a diligent public servant, he was able to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Russian Government, as the original builder of Ajaokuta integrated steel power plant.
To our dismay, we have seen some purported and sponsored write-ups flying all over the social media claiming that Honourable Minister is underperforming. We the union leaders of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited refute that misleading statement coming from the so-called group called Nigeria Good Governance Research Group (NGGRG).
Verily, the sponsor of this mischievous group has no good intention towards the revitalization of Ajaokuta Steel Company and we urge the Federal Government to concentrate attentively on the path being toed by Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, the Hon. Minister of steel development. We equally want to assure the Federal Government that the union leaders are working in synergy with the Minister to see that we provide every necessary information that will aid him to succeed and to provide excellent report that will lead us to being an industrialized nation for the betterment of Nigerian citizens.
It is important that the Ministry staff, from Directors to the Permanent Secretary down to the lowest management staff, should do a just work by joining the Minister and Mr President to achieve the the resuscitation of Ajaokuta.
Finally, we urge all the critical stakeholders to let the breeding pen write progressively and shun destructive criticisms, to move this nation forward.
God bless Nigeria
God bless Kogi State
Gog bless Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited
Comrade Ibrahim Audu Abdurrahman is the chairman, Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSSAN)