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Ajaokuta Steel Company was established as a means of harnessing our national steel potentials.
Steel mining and development began decades ago in Nigeria under the Shehu Shagari regime. After spending billions of dollars on the project, successive Nigerian government seems to have thrown in the towel over the possibility of the country become a world giant in steel production.
While many aspiring Presidential candidates speaks on the low level of development, industrialization and employment in Nigeria, nor of them have mentioned the enormous role the steel company can have on the economy if revamped sincerely and successfully.
Today, Nigeria rely on importation for quality steel from countries like China, Germany etc.; the question is, how else can Nigeria’s economy become diversified without our government thinking beyond Crude Oil and Agriculture?
Each time the current administration think and talk about diversifying the Nigerian economy, we hear them emphasize the Agriculture as a means of providing jobs, jobs and jobs. When Atiku Campaign Organization talk about diversifying the economy of Nigeria, we hear them say that they would sell or unbundle the NNPC. So, why one group focuses on the Agricultural industry, another focuses on the Petroleum industry. Please, who is thinking about the Steel industry? How well and fast can our automotive industries develop without a functioning Ajaokuta Steel Company? Which party is thinking about bringing back the days of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills, so and so Steel Rolling Mills, and so and so Machine Tools LTD?
As we consider the Next Level and the Make Nigeria Work Again papers; please join me to ask any of them about their plans for the steel industry as a catalyst for industrialization in Nigeria. God bless Nigeria!
