All arrangements put in place by the management of Ajaokuta Steel Company and REPROM Nigeria Limited to commence the running of the multi-billion naira steel plant may suffer a set back, as a result of shortage of accommodation to house the prospective expatriates.
The Management of Ajaokuta Steel Company had concluded arrangement to commence operation of its rolling mill, one of the most critical section in steel factory.
There has been major preparation to commence the take off of the steel company in Kogi state, after some delay by the successive government in the country.
But the Managing Director of REPROM Nigeria Limited, Mr Attah Achimugu, told The Nation, that Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) to contract the lubrication of the rolling mill was issued to a successful company, and delivery of the oil had since been done. But accommodation which is key to the success of the steel company is said to be the major problem.
However, both the interim management of the steel plant and REPROM Nigeria Limited are already making efforts to renovate hundreds of abandoned houses to provide enough accommodation to the expatriates.
He said rolling mills have been lubricated and undergoing test runs, adding that full operation of the sector would commence this month.
REPROM Nigeria Limited had last year entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the interim management of Ajaokuta steel company.
The Nation investigation revealed that the shortage of the accommodation was not unconnected with the manner in which houses were allocated to people by past management.
