Patrick Ugeh
4 December 2008
Abuja — Although workers of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited said if given the permission, they are ready to commence operation of the company and generate money to assist in its completion and augment payment of staff salaries, the supervising Minister of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Demola Seriki, has explained why it is not possible to grant their prayer.
The minister, explained that it was imperative to complete the technical audit and the report submitted before production can start so as to avoid pilfering of properties on ground.
"There is need for the technical audit to be completed first before production can start in order to avoid pilferage," he said in response to an inquiry by THISDAY as to why the request of the workers had not been granted. "Even where things are not stolen, they could report them stolen. Starting operation before that is done will make the place more vulnerable. The decision may be unpopular but it is in the best interest of the public."
Seriki, who spoke at a presentation by the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, NCCF, also read the riot act to staff of the ministry, warning of "casualties" as indolent workers would be shown the way out.
The NCCF, led by George Osahon of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) where the Nigerian Content Department is domiciled, had asked to help in turning around the steel industry by providing the enabling environment to make it as organised as the oil and gas industry.
To assist it in attaining its objective, the NCCF, in the presentation titled "Steel in the Activities of the Oil and Gas Industry", prayed the minister to: "Grant authorisation for ingress and egress of the Technical Team to the plant and such OBL installations that may be germane to the assessment."
"Give the group a chance to come up with a proposal which promises to be unique in context and content." Avail the group of such basic information on the plant as well as the location of minerals and other input materials required for steel manufacturing to facilitate the assessment of their occurrence, quality, quantity, mining approach and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) implications.*Grant audience for the presentations of the final report and proposal.
The minister granted the first two requests immediately and assured that the Federal Government was committed to the exploitation and exploration of the solid minerals sector.
On the attitude of the staff to work, Seriki challenged his directors to "wake up", adding that although he met the ministry passive, he assured that he would not leave it as such.
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