Ajaokuta, others will work within four years, says Reps committee

The Ajaokuta Steel Company and other steel companies across the country will resume operations within the next four years.

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development, Abdullahi Halims, during a chat with journalists in Abuja said others include the Aladja Steel Company and Katsina Steel Rolling Mills.

With optimism and determination, Halim said, “At the end of four years, I want to tell you by the grace of God, we will see the Ajaokuta Steel Company working very well. We will see the Aladja Steel Rolling Mills; we will see the Katsina Steel rolling out mills and the entire steel sector making gains out of production.”

He lamented that the steel industry had become moribund despite being established to drive the industrial sector of the economy.

Halim identified outdated laws as one of the main factors militating against the development of the sector, thus frustrating Nigeria from achieving its target of becoming one of the world’s biggest economies by 2020.

The chairman stated that a functional steel industry enables job creation which can guarantee economic growth for future generations.