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The Federal Government
of Nigeria has expressed its preparedness to partner with
the private sector for the development of Nigeria’s Steel
Sector.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development,
Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada made the disclosure during a
familiarization visit to the National Metallurgical
Development Centre, Jos, in Plateau State.
In the words of the Minister: “Due to the
ongoing reforms in the Steel Sector, most of the end-users
of the services of the National Metallurgical Development
Centre, Jos are in the private sector. That is why we are
trying to bring in the private sector for partnership
through finances and other areas for the development of the
Steel Sector”.
To realize the essence of such partnership,
the Minister emphasized that Federal Government agencies in
the Steel Sector must start a process of making things work
to encourage private sector participation for the
development of the Sector.
He said that programmes and activities in the
ministry and its agencies would be properly articulated and
financed for implementation.
Arc. Sada said that the Ministry and its
agencies have to appreciate the end-users of its investment
data and information.
He explained that you can have very good
researched investment information for use but if the
end-users are in comatose, you will not be appreciated.
Consequently, he added that what the Federal
Government is trying to do is to make sure that the Inland
Steel Rolling Mills that were privatized or sold which are
not functioning could be made to operate.
In the words of the Minister: “The Inland
Steel Rolling Mills are public properties, We don’t think it
is right to lock them up”.
The Minister said that the Steel industry is
integrated. So many inputs come in before steel is
produced.
He said that if steel is not produced, you
discover that most of the inputs are hanging somewhere which
is again not right.
Arc. Sada said that what Nigerians and
investors need is high quality and quantity of Steel
products for their various industrial needs. He assured that
the steel sector would be resuscitated to meet the
socio-economic and industrial needs of Nigerians and
investors.
According to Arc. Sada “even if Nigeria has
the whole money in the world we cannot continue to import
our steel products from the developed nations”.
While responding to questions from
journalists on the issue of the reported lead poison that
resulted to loss of lives in some villages in Zamfara State,
the Minister said that all-mining activities had been
stopped in the affected areas.
He added that officers had been sent from the
Headquarters of the Ministry to conduct various tests of the
soil, water and air in the affected villages in Zamfara
State for detailed information and facts on the issues.
While welcoming the Honourable Minister and
his entourage, the Director- General of the National
Metallurgical Development Centre, Engineer Garba Usman said
that the major activities of the centre are geared towards
the development of the Metallurgical sub-sector.
The organization was established since 1973
to carry out mineral evaluation, metallurgical processes
adaptation and improvement, mineral and metals testing and
environmental pollution studies.
Engr. Usman said the centre has integrated
facilities and the first of its type in the West African
sub-region.
According to the Director – General, the
major challenges of the centre are inadequate funding and
inadequate trained manpower.
Consequently, he sought the assistance of the
Federal Government and other stakeholders for assistance.
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