From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
In a bid to tackle the current unemployment saga in Nigeria, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has restated the resolve of the Federal Government to revive the ailing Ajaokuta Steel Company located in Kogi state.
The Minister who gave the assurance while flagging off the distribution of 4,000 bags of rice and fertilizer as palliatives to the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State over the weekend, said that the Ajasteel Company when resuscitated is capable of providing employment opportunities to 500,000 Nigerians.
The Minister explained that the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at alleviating hunger in the country.
He commended the youths of the state for abstaining from the recent #Endbadgovernance protest noting that dialogue remains the best option to resolve disputes in the Country.
“We have started seeing some of the benefits that is accrued to you under the renewed hope agenda. We must thank Kogites for eschewing protest and violence and for their support for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration”.
He highlighted some of the palliatives Kogites have benefitted in the last one year of President Tinubu. “One of the major things Mr President have been able to do to Kogites under the renewed hope agenda is to be able to provide N50,000 grants to 5000 business owners or persons across the 21 Local Government Areas to support their businesses.
“These are grants. Meaning that you don’t have to pay back. If you look at the N50, 000 that was shared to 5000 People, it amount to about N250,000,000 across the 21 Local Government Area of the State.
“I have discussed with my colleague, the Minister of Industries Trade and Investment to get an additional allocation of 2,500 additional grants for people so that we can increase the numbers of beneficiaries to 7500. It will also increase the amount from N250,000,000 to N375,000,000.
“During the Ramadan period, Kogites across the three Senatorial districts also benefitted from some of the palliatives the Federal Government shared as part of it renewed hope agenda. We shared almost three thousand bags of rice, groundnut oil, to beneficiaries across Kogi State.
“Today, we are sharing over 4000 bags of rice and fertilizers to beneficiaries across Kogi State. The beneficiaries includes traditional, political, religious leaders including opposition parties. People across the length of Kogi will benefit. We have the full list that cut across the 239 wards of Kogi State”.
Aside the distribution of palliatives to cushion the present economic challenges in the Country, the Minister reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration to revive the moribund Ajaokuta Steel plant in Kogi State.
According to him, “We are working day and night to ensure that Ajaokuta steel plant comes back to life. We have discussed with various stakeholders to this effect. The Government has done rapid assessment on Ajaokuta Steel plant.
“Recently, some of you have seen Russian engineers who came to the Steel plant to assess the present State of things. It is all part of the revival process. At the end of the day, when we discuss with the various parties, the party that brings the best option will be considered, subject to the approval of Mr. President”.
Our Correspondent, reports that the Minister disclosed that his ministry is in advanced discussion to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU) with the Ministry of Defence to bring the military industrial complex to Ajaokuta that will create over 10,000 jobs for Kogites and Nigerians.
“Upon me assuming office, over 200 Kogites were engaged in adhoc job opportunities across the Steel industry. The Federal Government want to declare Ajaokuta Steel territory as an industrial park where there will be a CNG park and free trade zone which will make the Ajaokuta Steel Company and Ajasteel Company to tackle unemployment.
