Complete Ajaokuta Steel, Usman-Abatemi Urges Jonathan

Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial Zone has appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the abandoned Ajaokuta Steel project in the interest of the country.

Abatemi-Usman, in a statement, noted that the completion of the project would go a long way in turning around the economic fortunes of the entire country and reducing the rising rate of criminal activities which are usually caused by unemployment.

The Senator, who is a former special assistant to the embattled erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, said with the gigantic amount of about $4.5 billion spent on the project, it would make much sense for it to be brought to finishing point.

The project which, according to Abatemi-Usman, an agricultural engineering graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), only requires about $500 million to complete is capable of engaging over 40,000 people.

“I think the Ajaokuta Steel Project should be of paramount importance to the Federal Government at this point in time. As a matter of fact, it is one project that the Federal Government cannot continue to pay lukewarm attention to and remain indifferent about. The Ajaokuta Steel project has about eleven full-fledged companies within it and these companies when put to optimal utilisation can generate over 40,000 jobs for the local population,” Abatemi-Usman explained.

He added: “It was said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, spent about $4.5 billion and now the complex only requires about $500 million for it to be brought to completion. Surely, this is a project that has the capacity to generate some megawatts of electricity and which would in the end be a major contributor to the national grid. Since President Goodluck Jonathan has talked about his transformational agenda, I am using this medium to appeal to him to see to the completion of this wonderful and all-important project in the life time of his administration. I have no doubt that the transformed Nigerian that he desires, would certainly come to fruition if he treats the project with utmost concern.”