By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari says the 400 million dollars spent to rescue the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel is money well spent and will not be a waste.
He made the remark while speaking in Okene, Kogi State during a town hall meeting at the newly-renovated Central Ohinoyi Palace.
Buhari was also there to inaugurate what the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, called “legacy projects.”
He said his administration was working to reposition the state as an investment hub through the activation of solid minerals.
His words: “No project that is dear in our heart like the Ajaokuta Steel company located in Kogi State which we inherited in moribund condition from previous administrations.
“The steel company has dispute both locally and internationally; I am glad to say that through our concerted effort, we are able to settle the dispute by paying some money and the company is now ready for concessioning to competent private investors that will operationalize it for the people of Kogi State and Nigerians at large.
“We are in talking with a reputable company in the United States and by God’s grace, Ajaokuta, very soon, will come back to serve the people of Nigeria.
“The significance of making Ajaokuta Steel working again is enormous, as it will generate over 500, 000 jobs for Nigerian youths and also generate high revenue for the state and the country in the tune of over 1.6 billion dollar, annually.
“Nigerians should be rest assured that my administration will pursue the issue of Ajaokuta Steel company to a logical conclusion before I leave office as president of Nigeria.
“The commissioning of the projects is in realization of our campaign promises to the people of Kogi state.
“I have been briefed by Governor Yahaya Bello for the numerous projects he has executed for the people which include Confluence University of Science and Technology at Asara, Rice mill in Ejiba, hospitals in Idah, Kabba and Okene, construction of roads in the three senatorial districts, and GYB model secondary schools, among others.
“In Lokoja, there is a flyover project the first of its kind in Kogi State. Kogi State plays host to AKK Gas Pipeline projects that will be completed next year.
“It will boost the economic activities of the country and it will have a multiplying effect to the people of the state.
“I am impressed by the performance of Governor Yahaya Bello; he has done very well in the area of security and projects execution in Kogi State.
“We are proud of him and we urge him to do more for the people and I am appealing to the people of Kogi State to support him so that he can achieve and deliver more dividends of democracy and achieve peace and development of the state.”
Earlier, the governor, Alhaji Bello, in his speech, said the visit of President Buhari was a historic day and a historic moment in the lives of Kogi State and indeed in the lives of entire Ebira people and other tribes in Central Senatorial District of the state.
“We are happy the very day you granted approval to come to Kogi State for the commissioning of few out of many projects this administration has executed for the people.
“When I was sworn in in the 27th of January, 2016 we were determined to serve our people and we quickly commissioned multidimensional sectors to form what we call new direction blueprint.
“From that period till date, this particular document has served as a guide for accelerated development in Kogi State.
“We took our time to move round the state to determine what the people are lacking and what they really want that can improve the standard of living, and every year we zero down such need to our budgetary provision and we ensured that we follow it to the letter.
“Since that time Mr President, during campaign, we promised to fulfil all our promises and today those projects you will commission for us and others you may not be able to commission for went of time are projects we executed from the resources available to us.
“We ensure that the entire people of Kogi State benefit from our projects executed from internally general revenue, national resources and every other resources God gave to us in Kogi state.
“Mr President, we hit the ground running and you told me to be courageous in Leadership and how to bring out my best and today the projects is an attestation of our best to the people of Kogi state.
“I followed your footsteps in ensuring that projects and infrastructures that has direct impact on the people.
“Agassa -Upogoro- Benin road, the new Ohinoyi palace, the Reference Hospital are projects you have commissioned among other projects.
“In Lokoja, you will Commission one of the best flyovers in the North Central, Ultra modern GYB Model Science School, the secondary school can be likened to some universities in Africa.
“Muhammadu Buhari square is also in Lokoja for commissioning, modern security vehicles equipped by state of the art equipment will be commissioned too in Lokoja to fight crime and criminality.
“We appreciate all your support to Kogi State and we are appealing for the completion of Ajaokuta Steel company because no nation can achieve industrialization without iron and steel.
“We are still confident that your effort toward revitalization of the steel company will still be achieved before the expiration of the your tenure,” he noted.
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