As part of efforts to have Nigeria’s Ajaokuta Steel project revived and operationalised, the People’s Expertise and Excellence Foundation (PEEF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has volunteered to complement the effort of the federal government with technical expertise to restore the integrated steel plant.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Engr Abdallah Bukar made the offer during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaib Abubakar Audu in Abuja, Thursday.
Engr Buka who was represented by Alh Moshood Yusuf, member, PEEF Executive Management Committee explained that the visit was part of series of efforts made by PEEF towards the resuscitation of the steel plant, adding that “the November 23 Conference hosted by PEEF was with special focus on Steel Development and Procurement Management”.
Presenting the report of the conference to the Minister, the group said that their primary interest is to provide some expertise and skills needed to support the government in the progressive efforts being made to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company,
According to a report by THE TRUTH, an online publication, the PEEF delegation expressed concern that the non operation of the steel plant for about thirty years was bad and unacceptable. However, PEEF expressed confidence in Nigeria ability to revive and operationalise the steel company.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Foundation stressed the need for government to tap into the local resources available in the country, adding that they are adequate to support the efforts of government.
Reacting to the Report of the Conference and the presentations during the visit, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu thanked the group for sustaining the tempo in supporting government in the area of steel development and in particular, the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL), especially for volunteering expertise to support the effort of the present administration.
Prince Audu urged other civil society organisations to emulate PEEF in volunteering for growth and development.
Other members of the group on the visit include Dr Lola Mabogunje, Engr Ibiam Oguejiofo and Mohammed Bougei Attah, who doubles as the National Coordinator of the CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta.
THE ROCK POST can report that over 40 years after the Ajaokuta project was flagged off to be the bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialisation, not a single sheet of steel has been produced because its completion and operationalisation has remained a mirage, even as it reportedly achieved over 95 per cent completion in the early 1980s, due to neglect by successive administrations.
