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The Federal
Government of Nigeria has been commended for its
determination to reoperationalise Ajaokuta Steel
Company Limited and the National Iron Ore Mining
Company, (NIOMCO) Itakpe.
The Executive
Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris made the
commendation when the Minister of Mines and Steel
Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed paid him a working
visit.
In his remarks at
the occasion, the Minister of Mines and Steel
Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada said that he
was in the state on a farmiliarisation tour to the
Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the Ore Mining
Company, Itakpe which the Federal Government was
ready to reoperationalise for the industrial
development of Nigeria.
Arc. Sada said
that the second reason of the working visit was
to seek the support and cooperation of the
government and the people of Kogi state for the
development of the Steel and Mineral resources
sector because of the vast solid mineral resources
in the state.
The Minister
observed that Kogi state is blessed with many
solid mineral resources which the indigenes should
be sensitised to explore and exploit for their
social- economic empowerment and that of the nation
to keep the Mining industry on the move.
He disclosed that
the second and final phase of the Airborne
Geophysical Survey of Nigeria will be laun ched in
Abuja on Monday this week. He advised that the
geophysical information should be harnessed for the
benefit of the state and the nation.
The Minister
disclosed that the seed fund of #650 million will
be released very soon to the Interim Management
Committee of the two companies for their
reoperationalisation. He explained that when they
start operation they will be able to generate fund
and keep going.
According to Arc.
Sada, the units to be reoprationalised at Ajaokuta
Steel Company Limited are: the Light section mill,
the Wire rod mill, the Engineering workshops and
the Thermal Power Plant. The Bergeaud Plant will be
reoperationalised at the National Iron Ore Mining
Company, Itajpe.
The Minister
disclosed that he had received the Technical Audit
Report on the two companies that will facilitate
the reoperationaliosation exercise.
He explained that
the Federal Government was examining the previousn
failed concession agreements on the two entities to
avoid the mistakes of past decisions in order to
move ahead smoothly.
Arc. Sada said the
two entities will be operated at profitable levels
before the Federal Government would think of a
joint venture with investors through Public Private
Partnership or outright privatisation.
The Minister also
disclosed that frantic efforts were being made by
the Federal Government to pay the outstanding
salaries and allowances owed staffers of the two
copmanies.
In his remarks,
the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim
Idris commended the President of the Federal
Republic of Nineria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for
given the approval to reoperationalise Ajaokuta
Steel Company Limited and the National Iron Ore
Mining Company, Itakpe. He said that the two
companies are the largest in the Steel industry in
the African Continent.
Governor Idris
observed that Nigeria was loosing a lot of money
and resources as a result of the comatose state of
the two companies, adding that it was a good
development to reoperationalise the two entities. He
noted that we cannot develop as a nation without a
functional Steel industry.
He assured the
Minister of the state government's support and
cooperation in resuacitating the Steel industry in
the country. He added that when the Steel sector
was revived many job opportunities will be created
in Kogi State and the whole nation.
He disclosed that
investors are welcome to the state and they would
be protected and given a level playing ground for
their operations.
The Governor said
that Kogi State is blessed with large quantities of
Iron Ore and many other soild mineral resources as
raw materials for the development of the Steel and
Mining industry.
The Governor
pleaded with the Federal Government to pay the
backlog of salaries and allowances owed staffers of
the two companies. He commended the Interim
Management Committee of the two companies for what
they are doing in the two entities.
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