AJAOKUTA STEEL: AS NATASHA MAKES THE DIFFERENCE - Ayo Oyoze Baje
The idea behind my opinion essay with the title : ‘Ajaokuta debacle and the enemies within’ first published in Daily Independent in March, 2013 was to bring to the public sphere the persisting angst and outrage of the average Ebira elite, genuinely concerned about the lack of sustainable economic development of the area, through meaningful industrialization using the steel company.
Of great significance too, is how the policy makers concerned would muster the political will to finding lasting solutions to the economic logjam.
The crux of the matter is that the criminally neglected steel company, the second largest in Africa and the 12th iron ore in the world has been under lock and key since 1994.
The federal government has reportedly spent a whopping $8 billion on the moribund company which has remained idle since the Russinas abandoned its construction some 24 years ago!
As one had raised in the essay, would this have been allowed to hold sway if these were located in other parts of the country belonging to the three major ethnic groups? That has remained the million-Naira question.
But beyond ethnic sentiments is that within that same period, the profile of one distinguished Nigerian, who is genuinely concerned about the preventable situation has been on the rise .
She is none other than Barrister Natasha Akpoti. Aptly described as ‘a stern believer of justice, equity and rule of law, a devotee of humanity services and a disciple of a better Nigeria for Nigerians’ she has been making the difference by walking the talk.
Of specific interest is how she has been persistently fighting for the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd.
Only recently, she tried hard to expose the conspiracy on the company’s revival at the House of Reps debate. Akpoti, in a petition read at the House of Representatives, revealed plots by some individuals in Goodluck Jonathan’s previous administration and the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to fraudulently acquire the steel company for themselves!
In her speech, Natasha revealed how a Russian company had to abandon the project in 1994 because Nigeria fell short of its contractual agreement by not releasing funds needed for the completion of the steel company. She also claimed that Vladimir Putin wrote the Nigerian government on how to modernize and complete the Ajaokuta complex, but key Nigerian actors have been silent on the offer because of their personal interest in the steel company.
Furthermore, Iron Ore Company, Itakpe was concessioned to a private company, Global Infrastructure Holding Limited, which later metamorphosed to Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited. According to her, GINL had at many times contributed to the decay of the steel company, which is why it is still moribund today.
Natasha also explained how late president Umar Yar’Adua terminated the concession of Ajaokuta and Itakpe steel company to GINL after a committee was set up to find out about the concessioning process and the state of Ajaokuta in 2008.
According to her, there are several indications that two powerful, vested interests in the current administration have interest in the steel company. She mentioned the Minister of Solid Minerals and Mines Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. But he stated that most of the allegations made against him, the Minister of State and the Ministry officials were not only unfounded but malicious. He revealed also that the technical audit, which would determine the actual cost of fixing Ajaokuta Steel Complex, was still on going, and would be ready in a few weeks.
Specifically, Dr Fayemi said that contrary to insinuations, the Russian government had never approached the Ministry nor the federal government to signify interest in running the complex.
He, however, confirmed that some companies in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Nigeria had expressed interest in taking over the Ajaokuta Complex, but that the Minis
Barrister Natasha Akpoti
Of great significance too, is how the policy makers concerned would muster the political will to finding lasting solutions to the economic logjam.
The crux of the matter is that the criminally neglected steel company, the second largest in Africa and the 12th iron ore in the world has been under lock and key since 1994.
The federal government has reportedly spent a whopping $8 billion on the moribund company which has remained idle since the Russinas abandoned its construction some 24 years ago!
As one had raised in the essay, would this have been allowed to hold sway if these were located in other parts of the country belonging to the three major ethnic groups? That has remained the million-Naira question.
But beyond ethnic sentiments is that within that same period, the profile of one distinguished Nigerian, who is genuinely concerned about the preventable situation has been on the rise .
She is none other than Barrister Natasha Akpoti. Aptly described as ‘a stern believer of justice, equity and rule of law, a devotee of humanity services and a disciple of a better Nigeria for Nigerians’ she has been making the difference by walking the talk.
Of specific interest is how she has been persistently fighting for the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd.
Only recently, she tried hard to expose the conspiracy on the company’s revival at the House of Reps debate. Akpoti, in a petition read at the House of Representatives, revealed plots by some individuals in Goodluck Jonathan’s previous administration and the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to fraudulently acquire the steel company for themselves!
In her speech, Natasha revealed how a Russian company had to abandon the project in 1994 because Nigeria fell short of its contractual agreement by not releasing funds needed for the completion of the steel company. She also claimed that Vladimir Putin wrote the Nigerian government on how to modernize and complete the Ajaokuta complex, but key Nigerian actors have been silent on the offer because of their personal interest in the steel company.
Furthermore, Iron Ore Company, Itakpe was concessioned to a private company, Global Infrastructure Holding Limited, which later metamorphosed to Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited. According to her, GINL had at many times contributed to the decay of the steel company, which is why it is still moribund today.
Natasha also explained how late president Umar Yar’Adua terminated the concession of Ajaokuta and Itakpe steel company to GINL after a committee was set up to find out about the concessioning process and the state of Ajaokuta in 2008.
According to her, there are several indications that two powerful, vested interests in the current administration have interest in the steel company. She mentioned the Minister of Solid Minerals and Mines Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. But he stated that most of the allegations made against him, the Minister of State and the Ministry officials were not only unfounded but malicious. He revealed also that the technical audit, which would determine the actual cost of fixing Ajaokuta Steel Complex, was still on going, and would be ready in a few weeks.
Specifically, Dr Fayemi said that contrary to insinuations, the Russian government had never approached the Ministry nor the federal government to signify interest in running the complex.
He, however, confirmed that some companies in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Nigeria had expressed interest in taking over the Ajaokuta Complex, but that the Minis
Comments
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: The comments on the blog are the views and opinions of the readers and does not represent that of Confluence Reporters.