Billions of Naira Wested on Importation of Metals – DG NMDC

By Georgina Humphrey

The National Metallurgical Development Centre, NMDC, Jos, says billions of naira is been wasted on the importation of metals used in Nigerian rail construction.

Director General of the Centre, Prof. Linus Asuquo made this known in an interview with newsmen to celebrate his four years in office in Abuja.

He explained that if Ajaokuta Steal Company is operational, the nation would have no need spending much money in importing metal that could be produced locally.

Prof. Asuquo also hinted that, with the amount of money spent on Ajaokuta Steel Company scrapping it will be a colossal waste and suicidal.

“Let me say this and I repeat many times, we should not play with Ajaokuta Steal company. A lot of politics have been played on this over the years. If you know the quantum of metals imported into this country, then you know where we are.” he added.

“We are spending some billions and billions of Naira to import metals. Now consider the railways that we are constructing all these are being imported into the country.

According to the Director-General of the NMDC if the steel plant is working it will revive the economy, created more employment for the citizens through skill acquisition.

“If we are doing research and development and you’re doing it without Ajaokuta Steel Company working , then we are just playing lip service in this country. For us to say this is our priority adding that politicians comes every year talk about Ajaokuta Steel Company that after that no implementation of their promises to make it functioning.

He However dismissed claims of some Nigerians saying equipment at the multi-billion Dollar Ajaokuta Steel Company are now outdated technology.

“Even if it is outdated you can modernize it into sections; from the blast furnace, steel production, produce pellets then to rods, power generation to many States”, he pointed.

“The last time I was in India in the year 2000. India was producing 100 million tonnes of steel in the year which method were they using then and which method were they using now. We just sit down to criticize Ajaokuta Steel Company that is outdated.” Asuquo stated.

“What are the new methods that you can use to produce enough iron and steel. A lot of people are saying nobody is using coal, Russia is using coal, China is using coal. So what are we talking about?
“Russia cannot do produce without using black furnace, India cannot produce without using black furnace.

He explained that no nation can diversify its
economy without meaningful research and development stressing that a lot of research have to be done for to move forward.

According to him, inadequate funding has made research institutes handicapped and performing below expectations compared to their counterparts abroad.

He said the NMDC is a citadel of industrialization if its potential are adequately activated there would be no need for any form of importation of iron and steel products including for the nation’s