Toba Owojaiye Reporting
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged that the nearing completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex will result in the creation of 500,000 jobs for Nigerians once it becomes a designated free trade zone. This promising development is attributed to Tinubu’s appointment of Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, a young investment banker from Kogi state, as the Minister of Steel Development.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu, shared these exciting prospects during the launch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in Lokoja, Kogi State, ahead of the scheduled governorship poll on November 11. In addition to the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Shettima highlighted Tinubu’s commitment to completing the Kabba-Lokoja and Abuja-Lokoja roads. He also emphasized Tinubu’s dedication to national restructuring and economic stimulation.
Shettima expressed the importance of unity between Kogi State and the central government, stressing the need for partnership in progress. He mentioned that the Itakpe crop processing project is a priority for the Tinubu administration, along with promises of job opportunities and affordable education for citizens.
Furthermore, Senator Sani Musa, an APC representative from Niger East, suggested that the Federal Government should privatize inactive oil refineries to facilitate local crude oil refining and reduce petrol prices. He proposed that the proceeds from such privatization should be redirected to the mining sector to create job opportunities for the country’s youth, who make up a significant portion of the population.
In summary, President Tinubu’s vision for the completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex holds the promise of generating half a million jobs, while his administration aims to revitalize various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, and refining, to stimulate economic growth and development in Nigeria.