Steel sector reforms to create 500,000 jobs, says minister

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has said that the steel sector’s ongoing reforms are expected to generate over 500,000 direct and indirect job opportunities nationwide.

He appealed to Nigerians to suspend the nationwide protest against the current government, assuring citizens that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working assiduously to fix the current challenges of the country.

Prince Audu made the appeal in a statement issued by his Special Assistant Media, Lizzy Okoji, urging citizens to have a little more patience and trust in the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Tinubu.

The minister stated that the policies of the current administration encompass strategic plans and policies that will drive Nigeria to economic prosperity, improved welfare, education and health systems, improved social amenities, food security, and infrastructural development, amongst many other needs when implemented.

Audu, while listing the achievements of President Tinubu in just over one year in office, assured that Nigerians will get all their expectations of good governance before the end of his first tenure.

Audu said: “I want to appeal to my fellow Nigerians to please suspend the nationwide protests against the current administration and let us resort to dialogue to address all our concerns and expectations from the President Tinubu-led administration.

“Mr. President has shown countless times his concern for the plight of Nigerians, with the recent implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for workers, driving the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative with CNG vehicles to cushion the impact of the removal of the fuel subsidy which will reduce the cost of transportation by at least 70 percent.

“Responsive to the challenges of the masses in the face of the ongoing reforms, President Tinubu directed the disbursement of N50,000 uplift grants each to over 100,000 families per state for three months thereby impacting close to 5 million families nationwide.

“My colleague, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, under the direction of Mr. President, has assured Nigerians that food prices will crash in 180 days, with strategic measures aimed at addressing the high food prices currently affecting the nation.

“250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and 250,000 metric tonnes of maize are being imported, and these semi-processed commodities will be supplied to small-scale processors and millers across the country.

“Additionally, strengthening the health sector, Mr. President has directed the redesign of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which attracted $2.5 dollars in financing for the National Primary Health Care so that citizens could have access to better healthcare.

“I and my colleagues at the Cabinet level, under the visionary leadership of Mr. President across all sectors, have been working relentlessly to implement various policies within our respective mandates for the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda so as to facilitate a better Nigeria for all, many of these projects have already come to light.

“In the steel sector, the ongoing reforms to revive our steel plants will create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, while we attract Foreign Direct Investments as a means of growing and diversifying the economy.”

The minister further appealed to Nigerians to shun the protest following intelligence reports from security and law enforcement agencies of miscreants with plans to hijack the protest to cause mayhem and breakdown of law and order across the country.

He commended the people of Kogi State for not participating in the protest but rather resorting to dialogue and collaborative efforts with the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government of the state, which is delivering on its campaign promises and dividends of democracy to Kogites.