Abuja – Prof. Benjamin Adewuyi, the President, Nigeria Metallurgical Society, on Friday called for accelerated completion of the first phase of Ajaokuta Steel Company, moribund for 25 years.
Adewuyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that when completed, it would serve as bedrock of industrialisation.
“If Ajaokuta is working then we will have a base to actually reactivate many industries that are moribund, because there are enough raw materials for them to start working.
“There is nothing for us to monitor as a society since our steel industries are not working; that is why we are emphasising that Ajaokuta steel company has to come on board,’’ he said.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Adewuyi said the company, which had reached 98 per cent completion since 1994, required infrastructural development to commence production.
“As stakeholders in the steel sector, we are deeply worried and concerned that for more than 25 years, the project had remained stalled.
“Nigeria has been denied the numerous benefits of this unique project; completing the steel plant will be worthwhile.
“In these few months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, normalcy has returned to our country, electricity is gradually getting stabilised, refineries have started working.
“Fuel has suddenly become available commodity and hopefully very soon the steel sector will be revived, ‘’ he explained.
Adewuyi, however, called on the Federal Government to make the steel industry as the centre stage of the industrial planning in Nigeria.(NAN)
