The Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has stated that Nigeria has no business signing rail deals with China, when the tracks can be produced in the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company.
He stressed that such trade deals showed lack of coordination.
Murray-Bruce, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Ajaokuta, Kogi State when he led the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Privatization to Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company, stressed that the present state of the steel company did not speak well of the country.
Noting that the company was almost 90 percent completed but abandoned by previous governments, he said: “For 22 years they should have had a plan through the minister of national planning. The minister of national planning should be the one integrating the policies of any government in power at the particular time.
“When you go through the detailed presentation and listen to arguments it is difficult to draw conclusions. When you don’t listen to the reasons why you are here in the first place?
“That is why it was important for all of us to listen to the arguments and understand the reason why. But let me say this, I am really touched by the presentation and the kind of leadership you have here. What is really clear to me is that the management of Ajaokuta Steel plant has on board very patriotic Nigerians because you must never sell your soul for money.
“First of all, you are a Nigerian, secondly you want to develop this beautiful country and create job opportunities for your people, and more importantly you want to create an environment where those of us in office will look back and say while I was there I did something for my people, but obviously this is not the case.”
The lawmaker disclosed that the committee will meet with the Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and hold a public hearing on the Ajaokuta Iron Steel Company on Thursday.
