The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Communication Technology/Cybercrime, Senator Yakubu Oseni has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, expedite action on the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State.
Senator Oseni who is representing Kogi Central Senatorial District had yesterday on the floor of the Senate reiterated that the recent pandemic that has become a threat to the world economy should propel the Federal Government on its final push to complete the steel company which has gone moribund for more than 30 years.
The lawmaker while commending the Federal Government for the recent inauguration of the Ajaokuta Presidential Project and Implementation Team (APPIT) in Abuja, informed the Senate that one out of the three phases of the steel complex is capable of generating thousands of job opportunities with positive multiplier effects on the ailing Nigeria economy orchestrated by the outbreak of COVID-19 when completed.
Senator Oseni who further argued that a working steel plant is capable of propelling a nation to attain unimaginable industrial height, said other sectors of the economy would become more robust as there will be raw materials readily available for steel-related production.
“The steel sector is very critical to our national development because of its catalytic effects on other sectors of the economy. Without developing our steel industry, we will continue to export our raw steel at very cheap rate and then import the finished products at exorbitant price just like we are doing with crude oil,” he said.
He therefore prayed that the Senate should urge the Federal government to expedite action on the resuscitation of the steel complex and the newly inaugurated committee to hit the ground running by resolving all issues that hitherto served as encumbrances to the operations of the steel complex.
Senator Oseni further charged the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals (which he is also a member of) to embark on on-the-site assessment of the complex immediately after the lockdown is eased or suspended.
The Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawal called for a vote on the prayers made by Senator Yakubu Oseni and the House unanimously adopted them.