Akwa Ibom will collaborate with FG to revamp ALSCON, says Udom
Governor Udom Emmanuel has pledged to work with the Federal Government to reactivate the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) located in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State as part of efforts to stimulate economic development.
He stated this when the Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Uchechukwu Ogah, paid him a visit on Thursday, at Government House, Uyo.
The governor described the steps taken by the Federal Government positive steps in the interest of the country and the masses,
“As a state, we are willing to give all the necessary support so that the project can actually come on stream.
“Trust that we will work together and we will make it work, it is in the interest of the country, it is in the interest of the masses, it will help our economy.”
The governor maintained that the bringing back the project was beyond partisan politics and smacks development in governance.
The governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving steps to revamping the Aluminium Smelter Company in the state, describing the move as efforts towards economic viability and the much needed diversification
Earlier, the Minister assured that the Aluminium
Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) will be reactivated before 2023.
The Minister, who revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) at Ikot Abasi be revamped, expressed optimism that at the end of the present administration, the company will commence operations.
He added that his twoday facility visit to ALSCON will ascertain the level of work at the company, and assured Akwa Ibom people that glorious days await the state soon.
“I am going to visit ALSCON to look at the activities there. The President has mandated that ALSCON should be reactivated as soon as possible, so we believe that before the end of this administration ALSCON will be running.
“A lot of approvals have been gotten from the Federal Executive Council, concession for the utilization of gas, so I believe with all the efforts put in place ALSCON will be a glorious outcome,” he said.
Ogah further explained that with the intervention of the Federal Government in the moribund status of the company, other legal issues he noted, will be resolved.
“It’s a growing concern and we believe that they will be sorted out as we keep progressing we believe that based on the intervention from the Federal Government all the legal issues will be resolved soon,” he noted.