Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for flaging off the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project, saying his foresight, love and commitment to the growth and development of the country is unprecedented.
The governor gave the commendation on Tuesday in his remarks during the official inauguration of the project.
Bello said the importance of the project cannot be overemphasized, saying, when completed, AKK will provide the desirous stimulus to domestic industrial growth and boost domestic energy infrastructure.
“I am also glad to know that an indigenous company “Oilserv Limited” is part of the construction of this highly technical energy infrastructure in our country.
“So I once again commend Mr President for giving hope and confidence to our local companies; he is surely replicating the revolution in agriculture in the Energy infrastructure of the nation.
According to the governor, some of the country’s long term economic aspirations cannot be achieved if the necessary manpower and technical know-how are inadequate, adding that “as a government, we will continue to do our best to engage our youth in vocational training and skill acquisition programmes”.
“In 2018, our administration partnered with a Civil Engineering company specialized in outsourcing, training and management of industrial welders which has successfully trained and equipped hundrends of our youths with adequate theoretical and practical knowledge in metallurgy, welding and fabrication.
“I am glad to let you know that many of those youths are successfully engaged around our local industries here today. Let me also use this opportunity to inform Oilserv Limited to look inward for manpower (both skills and unskilled) when necessary as we are ready as government, to provide all necessary support for the completion of this project.
“On behalf of the good people of kogi state, I thank the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari for his untiring effort to see Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited is reactivated. We are committed to agenda of his administration and will continue to pray for God for his wellbeing”, he said .
Governors Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna physically flagged off the commencement of works at Ajaokuta and Rigachikun sites, while the President watched remotely via video-conference from the Council Chamber in Abuja.
