Hajia Ladi Ibrahim, a Kogi State delegate at the ongoing National Conference, has advised the Federal Government to commence the dredging of the River Niger in order to build ports in Ajaokuta and Lokoja.
Ibrahim told the News Agency of Nigeria on telephone on Tuesday that a seaport in Ajaokuta would facilitate movement of the company’s raw materials and finished products.
She said that the burden would also be less on the roads as “water transportation cuts across the entire nation”.
Ibrahim, who was a former Auditor-General in Kogi State, said it had become imperative to have a seaport in Ajaokuta.
According to her, no nation can achieve industrialisation without its steel industry.
She said that if the government could bring the construction of Ajaokuta Steel Complex to completion, it would spur the industrialisation of Nigeria.
According to her, it is a threat to the industrialised nations for any developing country to come up with its steel industry.
Ibrahim, who is the Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, explained that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex alone could generate about 10,000 jobs for the youth.
She said that the Federal Ministry of Education should inculcate Entrepreneurship Development in the training curriculum of all educational institutions.
She added: “Professional bodies should equally look at their syllabus and create a practical entrepreneurship programme within their training calendar.
“They can have a practical session that can make the professionals viable and not dependent on the government for jobs.
“Apart from the government preparing short and long term plans for assisting the youth, the private sector should be involved in assisting the youth.”
Ibrahim said the private sector should partner with government to find solution to youth unemployment.
“The private sector can partner with government to bring in short term practical training to upgrade and absorb a lot of the youth.”
Confab delegate urges FG to build new ports in Ajaokuta, Lokoja
