Ajaokuta Steel Revival: Natasha Gets Historic Welcome From Russia
The SDP governorship candidate for november 16 governorship election in Kogi state and Ajaokuta steel Campaigner, Barr Natasha Akpoti, on Sunday, was given a historic welcome from Russia where she participated in facilitating the signing of agreement between Nigeria and Russian government for the completion of Ajaokuta steel company.
Addressing newsmen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Akpoti said her desire to to travel to Russia is born out of the fact that when she looked at the government officials who accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari, she realized there was nobody from Kogi State.
Sh explained that the governor was not there neither was any Senator or House of Representative Member sent to represent the state considering the fact that the two of the main projects that were going to be discussed; the nuclear power plant and the Ajaokuta steel company are situated in Kogi State, explaining that It was extremely important for the state to have had a representative.
Akpoti pointed out that she worked with the presidential team to ensure the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was put forward, describing it as a huge mile stone for them who are Ajaokuta revival faithfuls.
"It has been a long work of advocacy, risk and at a time we almost became disruptive but we stood firm on our stand that it was the best to bring back the Russians to complete the project that they started, this is a dream come true.
"We are looking forward to ensuring that Nigeria takes the advantage of the new alliance formed with Russia and to stand firm against conspirators that may come up to disrupt this process for their own selfish advantage because there are still some conspiracy going on now with Nigerians trying to highjack this process to bring in company that will handle the project because they already know that we have one billion dollar from AfriExim bank and four hundred and fifty million dollar from Russian government, but we will try our best to intercept the move", she said.
When asked what informed her decision on her long stand against privatization of Ajaokuta steel plant, Akpoti said, privatization is a government lazy escape, explaining that the line that has always been used is that government has no business in business. "If you look around the world you will discover that countries with strongest economy such as China, America, England and India have companies they manage, the five biggest steel plants in India are still own by government.
"If you think the public sector is not efficient, privatization is not the answer, change the people in public sector and get more active and knowledgeable people to drive it", she said
Akpoti disclosed that she also stood against privitization of the steel plant because Ajaokuta is too big to be owned by an individual.
According to her, because of the technological importance of the giant steel plant, someone from one region or tribe cannot own it and deprive the country of its economic advantage, explaining that it's best for government to own it and if anybody wants to participate in the privatization, they should wait for the downstream.
When asked if she's optimistic of the completion of the steel plant through the agreement, she said, she will be optimistic on the completion of Ajaokuta steel as long as they stand firm and resolute on making the government to be transparent and accountable in every step the government take.
She disclosed that the first thing she was going to do is to draw government attention to publish and make public the MoU that was signed for the public to be in the know of the agreement reached and ask certain questions, adding that everybody has a role to play to ensuring the agreement reached see the light of the day.
"The MoU is the first of many parts, what I expect the government to do now is to set up a team of people who are knowledgeable and patriotic about this course to work with the Russian team to draft the technical modalities that the contract will use and set timeline because there is money already.
"The MoU is a good deal for the fact the two presidents have met, but we cannot just go and sleep otherwise the process will be highjacked", she said.
when asked if the TPE, the original builder of the company will still handle the project, she said no company was mentioned at the signing of the agreement.
"It was just between the government of Nigeria and Russia. In the 70s and 80s when TPE built Ajaokuta steel, it wasn't just TPE, it was about ten companies but TPE was the the owner of design and they were the main coordinator and alongside other companies. It was like a conglomerate of companies but TPE was the owner of the design and they were the drivers.
"We are expecting government to put up a team that will be headed by TPE to deliver within specific timeline", she said
Speaking on whether the alleged legal issue surrounding National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) Itakpe will affect the agreement, Akpoti, disclosed that the alleged legal issue on NIOMCO is a cooked up story by the cabals and cartel to hold the company, adding the legal issue was a farce in its entirety and wouldn't affect the agreement.
Addressing newsmen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Akpoti said her desire to to travel to Russia is born out of the fact that when she looked at the government officials who accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari, she realized there was nobody from Kogi State.
Sh explained that the governor was not there neither was any Senator or House of Representative Member sent to represent the state considering the fact that the two of the main projects that were going to be discussed; the nuclear power plant and the Ajaokuta steel company are situated in Kogi State, explaining that It was extremely important for the state to have had a representative.
Akpoti pointed out that she worked with the presidential team to ensure the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was put forward, describing it as a huge mile stone for them who are Ajaokuta revival faithfuls.
"It has been a long work of advocacy, risk and at a time we almost became disruptive but we stood firm on our stand that it was the best to bring back the Russians to complete the project that they started, this is a dream come true.
"We are looking forward to ensuring that Nigeria takes the advantage of the new alliance formed with Russia and to stand firm against conspirators that may come up to disrupt this process for their own selfish advantage because there are still some conspiracy going on now with Nigerians trying to highjack this process to bring in company that will handle the project because they already know that we have one billion dollar from AfriExim bank and four hundred and fifty million dollar from Russian government, but we will try our best to intercept the move", she said.
When asked what informed her decision on her long stand against privatization of Ajaokuta steel plant, Akpoti said, privatization is a government lazy escape, explaining that the line that has always been used is that government has no business in business. "If you look around the world you will discover that countries with strongest economy such as China, America, England and India have companies they manage, the five biggest steel plants in India are still own by government.
"If you think the public sector is not efficient, privatization is not the answer, change the people in public sector and get more active and knowledgeable people to drive it", she said
Akpoti disclosed that she also stood against privitization of the steel plant because Ajaokuta is too big to be owned by an individual.
According to her, because of the technological importance of the giant steel plant, someone from one region or tribe cannot own it and deprive the country of its economic advantage, explaining that it's best for government to own it and if anybody wants to participate in the privatization, they should wait for the downstream.
When asked if she's optimistic of the completion of the steel plant through the agreement, she said, she will be optimistic on the completion of Ajaokuta steel as long as they stand firm and resolute on making the government to be transparent and accountable in every step the government take.
She disclosed that the first thing she was going to do is to draw government attention to publish and make public the MoU that was signed for the public to be in the know of the agreement reached and ask certain questions, adding that everybody has a role to play to ensuring the agreement reached see the light of the day.
"The MoU is the first of many parts, what I expect the government to do now is to set up a team of people who are knowledgeable and patriotic about this course to work with the Russian team to draft the technical modalities that the contract will use and set timeline because there is money already.
"The MoU is a good deal for the fact the two presidents have met, but we cannot just go and sleep otherwise the process will be highjacked", she said.
when asked if the TPE, the original builder of the company will still handle the project, she said no company was mentioned at the signing of the agreement.
"It was just between the government of Nigeria and Russia. In the 70s and 80s when TPE built Ajaokuta steel, it wasn't just TPE, it was about ten companies but TPE was the the owner of design and they were the main coordinator and alongside other companies. It was like a conglomerate of companies but TPE was the owner of the design and they were the drivers.
"We are expecting government to put up a team that will be headed by TPE to deliver within specific timeline", she said
Speaking on whether the alleged legal issue surrounding National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) Itakpe will affect the agreement, Akpoti, disclosed that the alleged legal issue on NIOMCO is a cooked up story by the cabals and cartel to hold the company, adding the legal issue was a farce in its entirety and wouldn't affect the agreement.
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