By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, July 6, 2023
A sociocultural and pressure group, the Ebira People’s Forum (EPF) has expressed their confidence in the capacity of President Bola Tinubu, to complete Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and make it running.
The EPF’s President, Mr Jimoh Ahmed, disclosed this at the stakeholders’ meeting held at Ajaokuta company’s complex.
According to Ahmed, the forum believe that the completion of Ajaokuta Steel company is key to realising President Tinubu’s vision of positioning nigeria as one of the industrialised nations worldwide.
The group expressed concern over the company’s inactivity, but opined that Tnubu’s administration possesses the strong determination to revitalise the moribund steel company.
The forum anticipated that the company, once operational, would have the capacity to create 10,000 direct employments and 500,000 indirect employments for the youth population.
Ahmed added that the steel company when functional would reduce importation of iron rods and flat sheets, as well as an improvement in power generation within the country.
He, therefore called on President Tinubu to use his global connections to make Ajapkuta steel company functional.
The forum expressed its deep appreciation to key individuals involved in the process of reviving the steel company, particularly Governor Yahaya Bello, and the Sole Administrator of ASCL, Engr Abdul Akaaba.
The Ajaokuta steel company limited (ASCL), is one of the steel mills in Nigeria located in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi.
ASCL was established as a Federal Government initiative to boost the nation’s economy.
However, in spite being conceived over four decades ago, the steel company has been unable to commence full operations.
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