The National Assembly has called on the Federal Government to muster the political will to complete Ajaokuta Steel Project for the technological advancement and overall development of the country.
Mohammed Sadiq, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Steel, made the call at Ajaokuta, Kogi, on Thursday when he led the committee members on an inspection visit to the project.
Sadiq pointed out that far from the claims of paucity of funds, the problem with the completion of the project was lack of political will on the part of successive governments.
He pointed out that the N560 million approved by President Goodluck Jonathan for the project last year was yet to be released, saying that centrifugal forces were working against the completion of the project.
The committee chairman called on the Federal Government to make bold and make available the N83 billion required to complete the project.
According to him, the only way for this country to move forward is to develop the steel sector.
He pointed out that the over-dependence on oil resources without developing alternative revenue sources was the bane of the nation's economic development.
“We have a weak economy because other sectors that should strengthen the economy are dormant. It’s high time we think of diversifying our economy through the steel option,’’ he said.
He, however, said that the president had kick-started a process for the completion of the project, adding that within a few month, the plans would be unfolded.
Earlier, Chief Philip Umunnakwe, the Chairman of the Interim Management Committee, thanked the committee for the visit, saying 513 billion U.S. Dollars was needed to put the complex in operation.
Umunnakwe urged government to release funds for the completed units of the complex to be overhauled and put into operation to reduce the exit of staff.
The chairman said that the plant was “technically and economically viable.”
He expressed regrets that highly trained and experienced workers of the company were exiting in large number, saying that last year alone, over 100 exited through retirement, resignation and death.
He reiterated that no nation had ever attained economic development in the absence of a vibrant iron and steel sector. ?
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