The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ajaokuta Steel complex

  • Ajaokuta Steel Complex will soon come to life- Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday assured the people of Kogi that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex would soon come alive and be running for the benefits of the people.

    Osinbajo made the statement at the Civic Centre at the Palace of Attah of Igala, Dr Idakwo Michael Ameh-Oboni, as part of the administration’s campaign for Feb. 16. elections.

    According to Osinbajo, the Federal Government had gone very far on the rivitalisation of the complex; “unlike the previous goverrnment, we have gone beyond our promises”.

    “We have come to the point where we are implementing and I am sure that very soon you will see for yourself that Ajaokuta has come to life,

    “This will make the business activities at Itobe area to come up actively and many people will be employed.

    “We have finally completed the Itakpe-Warri Rail road in preparation for the revitalisation of Ajaokuta steel.

    “Unlike the previous goveenment, President Muhammadu Buhari is not only a honest man, but also a doer that gets things done.

    “You will need to see for yourself that we are going to test-run the Itakpe-Warri rail road in few days time, and you will see everything that is being put in place,” Osinbajo said.

    He said that the administration had employed 500,000 youths under the N-Power initiative and would increase this to one million when re-elected.

    “Similarly our Marketmoni for market women and artisans, Tradermoni for traders with the target of two milion people.

    “Our desire is that every Nigerian should live a good livelihood and ability to put food on their table and other intervention,” Osinbajo said.

    He urged the people to come out en masse and vote for President Buhari and all APC candidates at all levels in the forthcoming general elections.

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi said what happened on Saturday had shown that God had vindicated us in Kogi.

    According to Bello, Kogi is for Buhari and APC, I am very confident that our prayers have been answered and we are cruising to victory come Feb 16, because Buhari has fulfilled his promise.

    He restated that President Buhari had promised that the Ajaokuta steel would be resucitated and would be producing for the people of Nigeria.

    Bello apoealed to the people to get their PVCs and vote massively for all APC candidtates and deliver them at all levels and avoid violence.

    The Attah of Igala, Dr Idakwo Michael Ameh-Oboni, thanked the VP for comong to Kogi especially Igala land.

    “We the people of Kogi and the entire Nigeria are very grateful to God for saving your life and that of your crew members.

    “We can see all good works you are doing, and it is left for us to reciprocate it because ‘one good turn deserves another.

    “We need to agree and partner with you

    “Our governor is an indefatigable governor, full of wisdom and very hard working; We promise to support you,” the monarch said.

    Mr Edward Onoja, the Director General, Kogi Presidential Campaign Council, said that the state government had impacted the lives of the people across the three senatorial districts.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vice president left for Abuja at about 3:34 p.m. immediately after the programme in Idah in another chopper. (NAN)

  • Use Abacha Loot to fund Ajaokuta, Reps tell FG

    …say Original Russian builders to be recalled to complete complex

     

    The House of Representatives Thursday urged the Federal Government to use the recovered funds from the Abacha loot to finance the Ajaokuta steel complex.

    The lawmakers also said TPE of Russia (the original builders) should be recalled to complete the steel complex.

    These were part of the recommendations adopted from the report of the ad hoc committee on Ajaokuta Steel Complex headed by Hon. Idris Ahmed.

    Read Also:No plan to sell Ajaokuta Steel Plant, says Osinbajo

    “Since it is known that most of the Abacha loot was gotten from the debt by back deal involving Ajaokuta, then the recovered loots which are still flowing into Nigeria should be used to supplement the funding of the completion of the Ajaokuta integrated steel plant,” the lawmakers said.

    While considering the report of failure of the Ajaokuta Steel Company to commence operations since Inception, the Green Chamber also resolved:

    “That the Federal Government should demonstrate a strong political will, just like the United States President did recently in steel sector, to resuscitate the Ajaokuta Integrated Steel plant by direct sourcing and disbursement of about $2b needed to revamp and complete the 2% external aspects of the Integrated project.”

    The project they said include  “revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Manufacturing Company, Itakpe, completing the various external rail track system and access roads linkages; the development and optimal functioning of the various mining sites for steady supply of raw materials to guarantee an uninterrupted steel production when the blast furnace would be started.)

    “That the Federal Government should, as a matter of national interest and security, annul and terminate the recent reconcession agreement entered into with Global Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (GINL) of 1st August 2016, as there is still an extant Federal Government indictment against the company (GINL).

    “That the Federal Government should cease from any further thought of concessioning and/or reconcessioning of the Nigerian Steel Companies as Nigeria has capable hands under the services of the Federal Republic to manage the integrated plants when properly funded;

    “That the Federal Government should revive relations with the original builders of the Company (TPE of Russia) towards wooing them back to continue and complete the good work they started alongside the current Management Team of indigenous Sole Administrators who have shown expertise and practical knowledge in the integrated steel plants management and production;

    “That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should heed the Presidential directive of late President Yaradua in 2008, to prosecute all the collaborators of Global Infrastructures Nigeria Ltd as economic saboteurs;

    “That both the Company, Global Infrastructures Nigeria Ltd and all indicted local collaborators should be made to pay damages to the host communities that suffered loss of lives when the Company used brutal force against the workers (most of whom were community youths) who tried to stop the Company from stripping and vandalizing the assets of the concessioned plants;

    “That the Company, Global Infrastructures Nigeria Ltd and its associates be banned from further doing any business in Nigeria as its track record has been marred by duplicity and fraud;

    “That accelerated legislative work must be done by both Chambers of the National Assembly to ensure that both the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Manufacturing Company, Itakpe, are removed from the Privatization List;

    The recommendations were voted on and passed with the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun.

     

  • Kogi: I will work for revival of Ajaokuta steel complex, says SDP aspirant

    An aspirant for the Kogi Central Senatorial district in the forthcoming general election, Natasha Hadiza Akpoti, has said that her major policy trust if elected would be the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel complex and all other ailing steel plants across Nigeria.

    In a statement made available yesterday in Lokoja, after obtaining the Social Democratic Party (SDP) nomination form, Akpoti noted that a functioning Ajaokuta Steel complex holds the potential of generating huge employment opportunities, high revenue generation and technology transfer, among other benefits.

    She added that more needed to be achieved in the areas of steel laws, establishment of steel authority and ensuring that the necessary political will is engendered.

    Akpoti stated: “When I stood against the privatisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, I did so because of my firm belief that the company holds the future of our country. When I become a senator, I will not only work for the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel complex, but all other steel companies in Nigeria, that will use the product of Ajaokuta Steel as raw materials, and the country would be better for it.”

    She added that she decided to venture into politics, because her constituents have been marginalised from the necessities of government in terms of social justice and economic development.

     

  • Dogara urges completion of Ajaokuta Steel complex

    The Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has called for the completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company.

    Speaking yesterday while on an oversight visit to the complex, in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, he described the non-completion of the steel company as a national embarrassment.

    The Speaker ruled out concessioning of the plant, saying that such would amount to handing over the nation’s assets to ‘asset stripers’.

    He said: “Any patriotic Nigerian that visits this plant cannot but shed tears. Any foreigner who visits this plant cannot but agree that we are from shithole country.

    “Anyone who try to re-introduce concessioning as a way forward will definitely have problem with us at the house.”

    He said whatever it would take for the plant to be brought back to life for the benefit of all Nigerians, will be done.

    “We are aware of local and international conspiracy against the plant, but we are determined to get the money from every angle to complete it.

    The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello advocated for the deployment of recovered looted funds towards the completion of the plant.