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…As Agency lists demands
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Minister of State for Steel Development Uba Maigari Ahmadu has reiterated the commitment of his ministry towards improving the steel industry for economic gains of the country.
This followed the demands made by the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) during a familiarisation working visit of the minister to the Agency in Kaduna on Monday.
During the visit, the Agency had demanded that In-Seam exploration is needed to determine the feasibility of mining the coal resource; bulk sampling for pilot testing and laboratory tests/analysis to ascertain the suitability of the coal for use as feed for Ajaokuta coke ovens.
Speaking during the visit, Ahmadu however, explained that the ministry is already working with other stakeholders in the industry; locally and internationally, hence the need to harness the gains within the sector.
The minister also maintained that the interface of the Tinubu’s led administration with both local and foreign investors gears towards making the sector economically vibrant.
“We are doing alot in this regards, solid mineral, steel sector, and so many other sectors are getting attention of the present administration. The intention of this administration is to open up Nigeria for real business.” He said
On the importance of the steel industry to the nation’s economy, the minister admitted that steel sector is critical to the economy, just as he said that no nation can develop without fixing the steel sector.
” I can say that we have been tied down for about forty years now. So, I would say we are forty years late. We would have taken off forty years earlier. This explains the speed in which we want to take off now ,” the minister said.
While Speaking, the Director General of the Agency, Kolawole Michael Ogunbiyi, said, “the integrated steel complex in Ajaokuta is yet to take-off optimally and the need to revamp this sector is paramount, as steel production is key to economic growth, job creation and sustainable future.
“Any technological development without a well-developed steel is unimaginable,” the Director General said.
Ogunbiyi further explained that domestic steel production will gradually replace foreign imports of steel, thereby reducing heavy demand on the nation’s foreign earnings.
The Director General also applauded the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards repositioning the sector.
