Emmanuel OchayiThe CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his dynamic leadership and celebrated the significant strides achieved during his recent visit to India for the G20 World Leaders meeting.
The Coalition, consisting of prominent figures in the civil society sector, expressed their gratitude and optimism during a joint statement issued on Saturday.
Mohammed Bougei Attah, National Coordinator of the Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative in Abuja, Otunba Dele Ajayi-Smith, President of the Africa Citizens Development Foundation in Lagos, and Barr. Clifford Thomas, Executive Director of the Foundation for Civic Education, Human Rights, and Development Advancement in Uyo, jointly signed the statement.
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The CSOs fondly recalled President Tinubu’s proactive approach to the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company. They praised his “Can Do Spirit” and the incredible achievements made in just three months in office.
Ajaokuta Steel Company, a long-standing symbol of Nigeria’s industrial potential, has been a focal point of the President’s efforts.
In the statement, the Coalition expressed their anticipation of President Tinubu’s upcoming visits to the UN General Assembly and other industrialized nations in the coming months, hoping that the Ajaokuta revival continues to be a central theme.
They highlighted the immediate shared fortune of a pledged $3 billion investment by Jindal Steel and Power of India, expressing trust that this would be a turning point in the long-term aspiration to see Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mills operational again, a project left at 95% completion stage since 1994.
The CSOs commended President Tinubu for establishing a dedicated Ministry of Steel Development and appointing Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, a native of the region, as its head.
Furthermore, the Coalition emphasized the importance of inspiring and promoting personal and collective responsibility in ensuring the growth, development, and sustainability of the steel sector in Nigeria.
They highlighted the manifold benefits the sector would bring, including the production of iron, steel, electricity (about 110MW), hydrogen, oxygen (35000 cubic meters per hour), nitrogen, argon, coke oven gas, sulphuric acid, and more.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by major industrialized nations opposing Nigeria’s steel goals, the CSOs expressed their belief that the tide would turn in favor of Nigeria and Africa under President Tinubu’s leadership.
They concluded their statement by thanking the President for his swift initiatives towards Nigeria’s industrialization and expressed their hope for incomparable fortunes to be brought to the country and every Nigerian during his tenure.
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