By; ADAMA JOHN, Lokoja
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the 400m US dollars spent to rescue the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company that he inherited from the past administration was not a waste.
He said that his administration inherited a company enmeshed in dispute, he has been able to rescue the company by paying the staggering amount, saying that the company is now ready for concession to competent investors that will operate it for the good of Nigerians.
“We are in talk with a reputable company in United States” he said, adding that in no distant time, the company would be back to serve the people of Nigeria.
This is as concerted efforts are being made to complete the on going AKK Gas Plant embarked upon by his administration.
Speaking in Lokoja on Thursday on the occasion of commissioning of key projects in the state, President Buhari stressed that the importance of the steel company coming back on stream cannot be over stressed, as it is expected to generate 1.6bn US dollars as revenue annually and creation of 500,000 jobs for Nigerians.
“Nigerians should be rest assured that my administration will pursue the issue of Ajaokuta to logical conclusion before I leave office as president of Nigeria,” he stressed.
He expressed delight with the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello in projects execution, as well as the security architecture of the state, saying, “I am appealing to the people of Kogi State to support him so that he can achieve and deliver more dividends of democracy”.
Earlier, the state governor, Yahaha Bello expressed profound gratitude to the president for the official visit to the state, occasioned by the commissioning spree of projects.
Projects inaugurated include the Ganaja Flyover, the Reference Hospital in Okene, Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre and others.
