SOLAD thumbs Up Buhari for Initiative to Complete Ajaokuta Plant

The Sole Administrator(SOLAD) of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Engr. Sumaila Abdul-Akaba has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Ministers in charge of Mines and Steel Development for their unwavering commitment to the Ajaokuta dream, saying that all indices point towards the completion of the steel plant abandoned by previous administrations.
The commendation is coming as part of the new year message to staff of the steel plant titled: “May the Year 2020 Bring Us Laughter and Joy”.
With high hopes and expectations, the SOLAD told the staff that with their support, dedication and prayers, the attention sort for came to reality.
“With your support, dedication and prayers, the attention we all sort for the development and completion of the Steel Plant from Government and stakeholders came to fruition”, he said.
He noted that both staff and management have entered the year 2020 with the believe that government’s partnership with Russia was a done deal.
“Today, we have entered the New Year 2020 with a firm commitment of the Federal Government in partnership with the Russian Federation, that the long walk to reality for Ajaokuta Steel Plant is being formalized at the level of the two Governments”, he said.
“I therefore take this opportunity to thank God our creator for blessing our collective efforts, prayers, perseverance, steadfastness and belief that ‘Ajaokuta Dream’ can become reality”.
He reminded the workers that in his 2019 May Day wishes to the Great Workers of the Company, he did ask if the workers and the Steel Plant have gotten the appropriate attention from the Federal Government, but encouraged them to persevere in prayers to seek God’s favour which has turned to be a reality.

“You will also recall that, the month of May which is dedicated to workers all over the world equally coincided with the holy month of Ramadan. I did ask then for your prayers for the Steel Plant for God’s favour”, he said.
Quoting from the great American Leader Abraham Lincoln, the SOLAD said, ‘’I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right….’’.
He further said that while “we may appear not bound to win because of the distractions of our challengers, but we have consistently being true in our resolve and commitment that Ajaokuta can work. Our detractors believe we will not succeed, but our determination and resolve kept us alive and our strong will that our furnace lights will shine, kept our flames on.
We have stood by all those that stood by us from the days of President Shehu Shagari to these glorious moments of President Muhammadu Buhari. These two great leaders were right, and we will continue to stand by their resolve to see Ajaokuta through.
He expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his abiding faith in a functional Ajaokuta Steel Plant, the two Ministers Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite and his colleague, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah and the entire leadership of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development for sustaining hope and driving the Ajaokuta Dream to fruition.
He emphasized that the year 2020 is the year of laughter and joy, and charged the management, workers, and the Unions to be steadfast and ensure they support the current initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari and our Minsters so that our collective efforts will be crowned with joy and laughter.