As part of citizen efforts to resuscitate Ajaokuta Steel Company, a not-for-profit organization, People’s Expertise and Excellence Foundation (PEEF) has volunteered to complement the effort of government with technical expertise needed to restore the integrated steel plant.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, PEEF Foundation, Engr. Abdallah Bukar who was represented by Alh. Moshood Yusuf, a member of the Executive Management Committee of the foundation, made the offer during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaib Abubakar Audu, in Abuja, on Thursday.
He explained that the visit was part of a sequence of efforts made by PEEF to resuscitate Ajaokuta Steel Company, noting that “the November 23 Conference hosted by PEEF was with special focus on Steel Development and Procurement Management.”
Presenting the report of the conference to the Minister, the group said that their primary interest is to provide some expertise and skills needed to support the government in the progressive efforts being made to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company.
The PEEF delegation expressed concern that the non operation of the steel plant for about thirty years was bad and unacceptable. However, PEEF expressed confidence in Nigeria, saying: “We strongly believe that Nigeria has the skills and expertise to support Ajaokuta in steel production as well as make it a competitor in the global community.”
Executive Secretary of the group who also spoke on the visit reemphasize the need for government to tap into the local resources available in the country as they have adequate and available capacity to support the efforts of government.
Reacting to the Report of the Conference and the presentations during the visit, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu thanked the group for sustaining the tempo in supporting government in the area of steel development and in particular, the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
The Minister commended the visiting delegation for their sustained commitment to ensure the resuscitation of ASCO, especially for volunteering expertise to support the effort of the administration.
Prince Audu urged other civil society organizations to emulate PEEF in volunteering for growth and development.
Other members of the group on the visit include Dr. Lola Mabogunje, Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofo and Mohammed Bougei Attah, who doubles as the National Coordinator of the CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta.
