Kogi Central Senatorial Aspirant advocates resource control to fix Ajaokuta Steel

Kogi Central Senatorial Aspirant advocates resource control to fix Ajaokuta Steel

By Shaibu Stephen Ojate


A leading Kogi Central Senatorial Aspirant, Engineer Abdullahi Okino has recommended resource control as one of solutions to fix ailing Ajaokuta Steel and Itakpe Iron ore Companies both situated in Kogi State.


The business Tycoon turned politician during his farmilization tour across villages in Kogi Central noted that the idea of federal government solely taking charge and responsibility of all Natural Resources in the country is highly condemnable stressing that the policy has retarded development in the country.


Citing Ajaokuta Steel Company as an example, he hinted that the long delay in the completion of the Company can be attributed to enormous projects under federal government watch couple with lack of political will to bring these projects to completion.


Suggesting way out, Engineer Okino therefore canvassed for total control of all natural resources by every respective States in the country. He explained that giving every State right to manage the resources in their domain will ensure accelerated development and breed competition in the exploitation of natural resource in the country.


“Take for instance; if Kogi State is giving the right to manage her resources, I am very optimistic that the current administration led by Alhaji Yahaya Bello will do the needful to ensure the completion and take-off of Ajaokuta Steel Company. He is from the domain where the Ajaokuta steel company is situated and the passion to bring this to fruitful would have been in him. Today, he is handicapped because the federal government is in charge,” he said.


He further noted that the completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company will enhance the living condition of the people in Kogi State as bulk of internally revenue will be generated to Kogi State government. He hinted that Kogi State government will have enough funds to carry on the task of government in the State.


“We will have a working society with the completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company, Okino hinted.”


Okino has also attributed high rate of kidnapping in Kogi State to the failure of the federal government to resuscitated Ajaokuta Steel Company.


His words: ‘‘If federal government had taken bold step to complete Ajaokuta Steel Company, thousands of jobs would have been created. Our idle Youths would have been gainfully employed and taking to kidnapping on account of jobless would have not arisen.”


Buttressing, Engineer Abdullahi Okino also faulted the concession agreement the federal government had with foreign investors in the takeover the running of Ajaokuta Steel Company. He believed that federal government erred in not making Kogi State as a principal witness in the concession agreement.


“The company under review is from Kogi State and Kogi State government ought to have been made a Stakeholders in the concession agreement,” Okino said


Engineer Abdullahi Okino fingered that the delay in the completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company to lack of political will of federal government and poor charisma by those who had represented Kogi central and currently representing us in the Nation assembly.


‘”It is very sad to note that those who had represented us and even currently representing us have not been aggressive in their pursuit. They have not made the federal government to see the need to ensure quick completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company. Mine shall be different as I have the charisma to push for the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company.”


Engineer Abdullahi Okino upon bagging Degree in Chemical Engineering, he later holds Master Degree in Oil and Gas Management from the United Kingdom of and currently running Doctorate Degree in California. He is also a chartered Manager/Consultant by Chartered Management Institute of United Kingdom