By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The new Federal Minister Of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, has sought the cooperation of the management and staff of the ministry while tasking them on result-oriented approach to achieving the presidential mandate economic growth and diversification for the sector.
Alake made the appeal when he was received alongside his Steel counterpart, Shuaibu Audu, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Solid Minerals, MoSM, formally Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, MMSD, in Abuja following their inauguration at Aso Rock by Present Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday.
He said Knowing that the fortunes of the oil sector which has been the sole backbone of Nigeria’s economy is witnessing downward trend, it becomes clear that the onus of fostering economic growth now lies with the solid minerals among few other critical sectors, adding that the sector had caused so much international trade warfare.
“Given the importance of the sector to the President, he sent me here as someone he knows very well, to drive his agenda in this ministry.
“We will not allow civil service restriction to stop us from being innovative, we want results as long as we use legitimate means to get them,” he said.
On his part, the Minister of Steel Development, Audu, reaffirmed commitment to the the development of steel sector, especially the review and completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Company project within the tenure of the administration.
According to him, the focus of his administration includes: setting a roadmap for the development of steel sector, while aggressively pursuing Ajaokuta steel project and facilitating the enactment of required bills to regulate the steel sector among others.
He said, “Our past leaders recognised the importance of steel development but lacked the political will to achieve its objectives.
“The steel development is synonymous to Ajaokuta Steel plant whose commencement has been over 40 years ago. Our objective is to start the engine and ensure that we produce at least a small sheet of steel within this administration.
“It is a known fact that steel is the bedrock of any nation’s development, if gotten right, it may be the beginning of our industrial revolution” he said.
Speaking further Audu disclosed that the creation of the ministry underscores the mandate of President Tinubu, in pursuing the nation’s overall development through the sector.