FG To Streamline Two Agencies For Better Performance

The Federal Government is to streamline two agencies in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to promote effective and efficient service delivery.

The plan was announced on Friday in Abuja by Minister, Alhaji Musa Sada, when he received a delegation from the Council of Nigerian Metallurgical Society, led by its President, Dr Linus Asuquo.

According to a statement by Mr Marshall Gundu, Head of Press Unit of the ministry, the affected agencies are the National Steel and Raw Materials Exploration Agency in Kaduna and National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos.

The minister, said the agencies had overlapping functions which was limiting their performances and  promised that “when  streamlined they  will be better utilised’’.

While commenting on the current state of rolling mills, the minister said: “It is wrong for investors to acquire companies from government without operating them.’’

The minister said the  ministry  would  liaise  with  the  Bureau  for  Public  Enterprises  and  the  management  of  the steel rolling companies   to  address  the  challenges  militating  against  their operations.

The rolling mills are Jos  Steel  Rolling, now  Zuma  Steel  West  Africa  Ltd and Oshogbo  Steel  Rolling, now Kura  Integrated  Steel  Mill  Ltd.

The government would resuscitate the Ajaokuta Steel Company to achieve its Vision 2020, the minister said.

“Itakpe  Iron-Ore  mine  should  be  dedicated  as  a  captive  mine  for  the  Ajaokuta  Steel  Complex,  with  the  proviso  that  excess  production  be  sold  to  other  plants.