By Raymond Enoch
A Civil Society Group, People Expertise and Excellent Foundation (PEEF), has called for a state of emergency to be declared on the Steel sector by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
They made the call on Thursday at its 7th annual conference held in Abuja adding that the steel sector in Nigeria needs procurement transparency in order to end procurement corruption in the sector.
In his address, the Chairman, Board of Trustee (BoT), People Expertise and Excellent Foundation (PEEF) Engr. Abdullahi Bukar called for the revival and expansion of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, saying, this will engender economic prosperity, guarantee employment and promote efficient steel sector contribution to Nigeria’s accelerated development.
Bukar also opined that there is the need for a corruption free environment in the management of the nation’s investment especially in the steel sector.
He said, “Let us develop our country, so that we can process what we have and also sell finished products.”
“It seemed as if we do not value what we have that is capable of improving the quality of lives of our own people. By implication, we are stagnating because our income is dropping but our population is growing.” he added.
He revealed that steel the sector has the potential to generate N7bn annually for the country if properly harnessed.
Participants at the Conference which had the theme: “Accelerating Steel Sector Development in Nigeria & Achieving Zero Corruption in Procurement Management” said the Ajaokuta Steel Plant which is one of Nigeria’s gigantic investment in the sector is not obsolete yet as insinuated by some protagonist.
The Conference was attended by members of the Civil Society Organizations in the steel and procurement sector across the country, media practitioners and government officials.
Highlight of the conference included presentation of Award to the Minister of Steel development, Alhaji Shuaibu Abubakar Audu and other dignitaries including staff of PEEF.
