ABUJA – The President, Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sani Shehu, on Friday in Abuja said that Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill was critical to the nation’s economic and technological development.
Shehu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that no nation developed both economically and technologically without iron and steel development.
He said that China, Japan, South Africa, Russia, Canada, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia among others had well developed iron and steel companies.
He said that those countries recorded economic breakthrough because they established a very excellent foundation for iron and steel industry.
Shehu said that no nation would industrialise without having a strong iron and steel base, adding that steel was the backbone of industrial revolution.
He called for the revitalisation of the company, to enable it to meet its objective of boosting Nigeria’s economy and create jobs for the automobile industry.
He said that the country had abundant iron and steel raw materials which could be harnessed for the massive production of equipment, including automobiles.
He said it would be difficult to harness the potentials if the Ajaokuta mill did not get off the ground.
“We are appealing to the government to continue its reformation initiative on Ajaokuta. We want it revitalised; we want it to work as soon as possible,’’ Shehu said.
He said that the association would continue to support the Federal Government in its quest to ensure that the company lived up to its potential.
Shehu urged the Federal Government to capture mining sector in its ongoing transformation agenda by promoting it in the same manner as agriculture, textile, automobile and entertainment sectors. (NAN)