Jaiyeola Andrews
17 August 2007
Abeokuta — Determined to curtail over-reliance on oil, Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola, has assured that Nigeria would soon become one of the leading countries in the production of coal and bitumen. Ishola dropped the hint in a chat with THISDAY in Abeokuta , where he said if Nigeria fails to achieve this objective before the expiration of President Umar Yar'Adua's tenure, he should be called a liar.
"I want to assure Nigerians and I want you to take me up on this, that before the end of this administration, Nigeria will become bitumen producing country. That is one of the challenges given to me, we are going to achieve this by God's grace," Ishola said.
According to him, plans are on the pipeline to launch a policy thrust tagged, "Mines and Metals," in line with the Manitesto of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including NEEDS and Financial Service Strategy, to make Nigeria become one of the greatest world economy in the year 2020.
On Ajaokuta Steel, he said he had visited the place and discovered that production was going on effectively, adding that the company would be re-energised to meet the needs of Nigerians and the outside world.
"I was at Ajaokuta during the week, I saw the iron rod being produced. It is in fact challenging, but the challenges are the fact that government has been directly involved in the production. Now, we are going into government being the administrator and regulator of the sector and leave its operation to the private sector," he said.
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