“Revive Ajaokuta Steel Company now!” Nigerians tell Buhari
The “travails” of the Ajaokuta Steel Company is not new to Nigerians.
When it was commissioned in 1983, many thought it would herald Nigeria’s “industrial revolution.”
Thirty-two years down the lane, time (or probably the sheer unwillingly on the part of Nigerian leaders) proved the hopefuls wrong.
Experts cannot wrap their heads around why the project, which has gulped over $5 billion, was aborted in 1992 – the year it reached 98% completion.
It’s even strange that the project initially required about $650 million to be completed.
Successive regimes have been urged to bring the project back to life. President Muhammadu Buhari just got served his own “open letter to the President on Ajaokuta blah blah blah…”
It’s all “blah…blah…blah…” when the people in government do nothing. They just receive the petition, file it somewhere…and…
Well…immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan vowed to revive it. Muhammadu Buhari did the same while running for office.
Founder of The Builders Hub, Natasha Akpoti, just launched a petition into compelling Buhari to fulfil that promise.
“Our economy has crumbled before our eyes and we have become largely dependent on importing products which ordinarily we should export and have abundant domestic supply to boost out local industries and in turn, our economic strength,” Akpoti said in an open letter to Buhari on Ajaokuta Steel Company.
She wants at least 500 Nigerians to sign an online petition she intends to forward to Buhari. Newsroom checks found 385 people have lent their signature to the cause.
“Steel has proven to be an economic power to any country that has the industry developed,” the petition continues.
“America has its steel industry as a dominant factor in its raise as a world power. In Russia today, its the strength of their steel industries that help the nation weather against the onslaught of Western sanctions.
“With the advent of a new government under President Muhammadu Buhari, we, the good citizens of Nigeria, tender our plea to the President and his wise team to kindly make, as part of the Federal Government’s desire to diversify from an oil-dependent economy to mining amongst others, the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company a priority. On completion, it poses to be the largest integrated steel complex in the Sub-Saharan Africa and shall well usher Nigeria into vision 2020.
“Nigerians care because a functioning Ajaokuta Steel Company shall be the backbone for economic diversification and bedrock for industrialization. Its revival would stimulate several other industries for production of building and construction components, agricultural and industrial tools, domestic and industrial appliances, automobiles, weapons and so much for domestic use and export.
“This singular industry poses to provide employment for millions of Nigerians – local crafts men, professionals of all fields, genders, disabled, at home and diaspora… everyone!!!
“Please our dear President, make the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company an utmost priority so that we all can collectively rebuild Nigeria for our children; regain its economic strength and become a world industrial giant.”
