The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abubakar Bwari

  • Ajaokuta: $5bn Railway maintenance bill to be saved annually

    A total sum of $5 billion spent annually on importation of railway expansion and maintenance materials would be saved when Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) begins full operation, Minister of Mines and Steel, Abubakar Bwari told House of Representatives members Monday.

    The minister made the disclosure during the 2016 budget defence session before the Hon. Lawal Idirisu- headed House Committee on Steel.

    According to him, ASCL also has the capacity to generate 100,000 direct and 500,000 indirect employment opportunities in both Downstream and upstream industries.

    He said: “I will not conclude the presentation to this honourable committee without re-emphasising the benefits of a functional steel sector will have on the recessed Nigerian economy.

    “For the construction industry, imports of over four million tons of rolled steel products and over 12 million tons of other steel products at the present rate will stop, leading to savings of several billions in foreign currency per annum.

    “In the transport (rail) sector, with rail track production in ASCL, more than $5 billion imports of rail for railway expansion and maintenance will be saved per annum. Likewise, in the transportation (road) sun-sector, availability of flat sheets, spares for automobile industries will
    significantly reduce foreign exchange, reduce unemployment, increase technology acquisition, etc.”

    The minister told the lawmakers that due diligence exercise has been concluded on the modified concession agreement signed between Federal Government and Messrs. GINL/GSHL, in October 2016.

    The concessionaire, Bwari said, has scheduled to carry out cold/hot tests to enable preparation of NIOMCO business plan and immediate commencement of operation.

    To this end, stakeholders, according to him, are in constant meeting with the concessionaire to address the issues of logistics and completion of other relevant schedules of settlement agreement.

    Collaborations, he revealed, are ongoing with Federal Ministry of Transportation for the development of Central Rail Corridor through Itakpe and Ajaokuta.

    He said his ministry is also cooperating with Federal Ministry of Power for the development of Coal Power projects for increase economic activities in the sector.

  • Col Abu Ali: Buhari mourns fallen officers and men

    Col Abu Ali: Buhari mourns fallen officers and men

    • Says their sacrifices won’t be in vain

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said that the sacrifices of fallen officers and men in the war against terrorism in Nigeria would never go in vain and that their memories would be eternally etched in the hearts and minds of fellow citizens for whose sake they laid down their lives.

    The President made this statement while reacting to the death of Colonel Abu Ali, one of Nigeria’s finest and bravest soldiers in recent history.

    Buhari, in a condolence statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said that he was rudely shocked by the news of the officer’s death along with other gallant soldiers during an encounter with the Boko Haram bandits in Borno State.

    According to the President, “a courageous commander does not only give orders but also joins his men to fight the battle, no matter the risks or the obvious danger.”

    He explained that the late Colonel Abu Ali “was an extraordinary officer who inspired respect and adoration among those he commanded”, adding that “one of the greatest attributes of a war hero is the ability to help your troops overcome fear in the face of danger.”

    President Buhari said the late Colonel Ali and his other fallen colleagues had brought glory to the army and the country for laying down their lives for the sake of others.

    In his condolence to the families of the victims and the Nigerian Army, the President also noted that their heroic sacrifices were “so immeasurable that no words can do justice to their patriotism and remarkable courage.”

    President Buhari, who personally called late Colonel Ali’s father, Brigadier-Gen. Abu Ali (Rtd.) to console the family, reassured them that the death of his son and others in battle would never go in vain.

    “He was a gallant soldier, never to be forgotten. He has brought a good name to the family,” said the President.

    He then called on members of the armed forces not to let the tragic incident dampen their morale and spirit, adding that under no circumstances should the Boko Haram terrorists be allowed to destroy the will of Nigerian troops.

    He said: “Evil should not be given any chance to defeat good and humanity”, and that “members of our armed forces should remain formidably united in the war against terrorism.”

    Meanwhile, the President has appointed a high-powered delegation to be led by the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, that includes the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello and the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bwari to represent him at the funeral of Colonel Abu Ali and others scheduled for Monday, November 7.