By 
Charles Nwabardi
The Federal Government has assured that the Ajaokuta Steel Industry would soon emerge better and stronger without any encumbrance.
The Hon. Minister for Mines and Steel Development Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, gave the assurance in Abuja while inaugurating the Reconstituted National Steel Council.
Arc. Adegbite charged members to live up to the vision that necessitated the formation of the Council noting that the membership is not only drawn from top personnels in relevant Ministries and top private steel companies but that it has even a former Minister of Steel as Chairman.
The Minister applauded the role of the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning in ensuring the rebirth of the steel industry.
Arc. Adegbite added that the roles of the Council members whom he said would make the country proud, include, training and research and technological improvement for iron and steel production.
The Council has among others the duty to train Nigerians in all aspects of Iron and Steel; development of senior Nigerian Management staff and trainees for steel plant development and other sectors of the industry. As well as the duty to foster research into the development and manufacture of equipment, to be used for the purpose of providing the basic engineering in the steel industry, among others.
His words, “I want to thank the President for allowing this to happen today even though it is long in coming. It is a painstaking process.
“The people that will be in the council must be very strict and thorough so he demanded to see the members and I think they were all vetted and found worthy
“We all know that our materials of steel are very important in developing the economy.
“We thank the honourable Minister on the plans to bring back the industry on stream and she has done very well and very soon the Ajaokuta will emerge better and stronger without any encumbrance.
“The committee will be given a more detailed functional breakdown. First, is the central planning for the steel industry as one of its duties.
“Talking of training and research and technology including other steps for iron and steel production.
“Establishment of facilities to ascertain qualities and advising the government on establishment in Nigeria, additional iron and steel industry especially the private sector that will be coming up now.
“As part of the Council’s mandate, they will also be responsible for the training of Nigerians in all aspects iron and steel industry and senior Nigerian management staff and trainees for research into development and manufacturing of equipment that will used for amelioration of basic engineering in the steel industry,” he maintained
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In her opening remarks at the ceremony, The Hon. Minister of State, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, noted that the ceremony was epoch-making, because the Council has never been properly established and operational as is being evolved.
The Council headed by Alh. Mohammed Murtala Aliyu as Chairman has 9 members. A member each from the Ministries of Mines and Steel Development, Trade and Investment as well as Budget and Finance and a representative each from the six geo-political zones.
The Hon. Minister of Finance Hajia Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, also graced the inauguration.
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