Daily Independent (Lagos)
30 June 2011
Former Minister of National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman, has attributed the non-completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Project to negligence on the part of the past governments in the country.
Usman made the observation while responding to questions on the floor of the Senate raised by Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman representing Kogi Central on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Senator, while drilling the Minister noted that all over the years, the federal government has not made meaningful development in the steel sector. According to Abatemi-Usman, former Special Assistant the embattled ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, economic growth and development are measured by industrialisation, especially the iron and steel industry.
In his response to the question on what specific plan the Federal Government has to develop the steel sector of the economy, knowing-full well that if properly harnessed, it can generate over 40, 000 jobs for the youths, the ex-Minister of National Planning said he is weeping for the country.
According to Usman, the federal government in the past spent over $5 billion on Ajaokuta Steel Company, yet there was nothing substantial on ground to show for it.
He implored the Senators to go on a visit to Ajaokuta and see the extent of waste arising from the negligence of past governments on the completion of the project.
“The non-completion of Ajaokuta Steel Project is the negligence and lack of continuity on the part of successive administrations,” Usman said.
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Ajaokuta Steel – I Weep for the Nation, Says Usman