BY REUBEN
AYODELE
 |
| Ajaokuta Steel Company |
Nigeria is
blessed country with abundant human and natural resources. Iron ore Is the raw
material for making steel .Ajaokuta is a steel company that is located in Kogi
state precisely in the central senatorial district of the state.Ajaokuta steel
company was conceptualize by former president shehu shagari in 1979 but the inauguration
of the steel company was in 1983.
Iron ore
are rocks from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. Iron ore is one
of the most abundant rocks forming element, constituting about 5% of the earth
crust. The importance of iron cannot be over emphasized. It is the most
important commodity after oil; it is the fourth most abundant elements in the
world after oxygen, silicon and aluminum.
Modernization
and industrialization depends on iron ore that is why the Ajaokuta steel
company deserve the most important attention, if Nigeria is to be taking
seriously about it’s becoming one of the 20 top economy by the year 2020.
Since inception
Ajaokuta steel Company has been a moribund company, which has become a
protracted national embarrassment. Ajaokuta has gulp close to $5 billion of our common
wealth since it was founded .Ajaokuta was a company which was formed to project
Nigeria towards industrial revolution. Yet it as been the bane of monumental
waste and corruption from successive rudderless policies of government, who
have refused to key in into the founding ideas that gave birth to this
neglected steel company.
Iron and
steel are very importance variables any country needs if it truly wants to
develop.98% of world iron ore production is used to make iron in the form of steel.
Example iron ore provided the foundation for Australia major export and
economic development.
Australia
is the third largest exporter of iron ore after China and Brazil which
accounted for the developmental status accorded these developed countries. Iron
and steel are the most used mental in our lives, every home no matter their
economic status of the family have one form of iron and steel instrument. Iron
ore is essential for the production steel which in turn is essential to maintain
strong industrial base.
Iron can be
used to generate electricity, most of the components use in the power sector
are gotten from iron, iron contribute to the gas industry, automobile industry,
construction industry and every sphere of life. Most importantly the Ajaokuta
steel company can generate close to five hundred thousand jobs including skilled,
semi-skilled and unskilled work force.
There are
ready markets willing to tap into this critical sector of the economy, like the
general industrial sector which encompasses every engineering aspect and
technical aspect of human endeavors.
However, as
good as this project Ajaokuta steel company is power supply is still a major
challenge. Without power steel mill cannot function that is why the onion is
now on the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill his promise to
Kogi state and Nigeria in general that he will revamp, restructure and bring
back Ajaokuta steel company to life. Doing this will diversify Nigeria economy
andf open up Nigeria to the world which will invariably create jobs to the
teeming unemployed Nigeria youths across tribes, religion and political divides
.Because poverty does not recognized race, gender or religion .General
Muhammadu Buhari change administration should urgently take action because the
dream of making ajaokuta steel company the industrial hub of Nigeria and Africa
is fading away daily. This sleeping lion of Africa must wake up.
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