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Stakeholders from Kogi Central Senatoral district in National Assembly on Thursday held a stakeholders’ meeting to re-strategize on how to revitalise Ajaokuta Steel Company.
The meeting was conveyed by the senator representing Kogi Central Senatoral district, Senator Ahmed Ogembe on how best and quick the Iron and Steel Company could be brought back to life, with some stakeholders at national assembly to review the modified concession of NIOMCO Itakpe.
In his opening remark, the host Senator Ogembe said many citizens has called him over the issue of the steel company but he’s privileged today to have with him, people that will give the breakdown of what is going on with Itakpe and Ajaokuta iron and steel company.
During the presentation, the chairman of steel and engineering workers union, Comrade Kadiri said, the Indian Company Global steel have a history of not respecting agreement and are likely to starve Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company of raw materials. He went further to say, no government has done anything to improve Ajaokuta since former president Shagari left power.
Also speaking was the president of ISSSAN Mr Titus Orimijupa and Ebira Youth Congress, Comrade Baba Rasaq, they both express confidence in the ability of Senators Ogembe led National Assembly caucus to network among the political class to see how Ajaokuta steel company will work again.
Comrade Rasaq expresses his happiness about the unity of purpose by the NASS members and the focus leadership of Senator Ogembe to champion the interest of his people.
In his remark, the executive secretary, African Iron and Steel Association Dr Sanusi Mohammed said the concession agreement is not in the best interest of Nigerians and Indian firm that Itakpe was concession to is a failed company which has committed all manners of atrocities in the past and this explained why the whole process was shrouded in secrecy without carrying along the critical stakeholders.
He urged the Senator to use the instrumentality of the national assembly to prevail on the government to revisit the agreement made with the Indian Company.
In his response, the member representing Okehi/Adavi federal constituency in the house of Representative Hon. Kabiru Ajanah said, the public hearing conducted by the house committee on privatisation and commercialisation shows that the critical stakeholders and the host community which he represent were not carried along in the hurriedly signed concession agreement with the same indian firm that unleashed mayhem on his people.
“There is no way the Indians will come back to work in Itakpe without relating with the host community and it is in the best interest of the Federal Government and the Indian firm to carry the host community along in the signing of the agreement so as to avoid a repeat of the Niger Delta crisis in Itakpe.
“We all have dropped our political difference to come together to champion this struggle for our people. The interest of the Ebira Nation comes first in all our considerations” Hon Ajanah said.
In his closing remark, Senator Ogembe said; it is unfortunate that so many interests are working against the revitalisation of Ajaokuta, I am aware that some people somewhere are working to get the 0.05% founder fee but am not interested in that.
“My only interest is to see Ajaokuta rolling out steel again,” he said.
Senator Ogembe queried why there is so much rush to concession Itakpe despite the fact that it is supposed to be a raw material feed to the Ajaokuta company and the government must first determine when Ajaokuta steel company will work before the concession of Itakpe.
He urged government to look into the welfare and interest of the staff of NIOMCO, the compensation of families who lost thier loved ones and promised that he and his colleagues in the House of Representatives will soon visit Ajaokuta and Itakpe on a fact finding mission.
Others present at the session includes; the president of the Iron and steel Senior Staff Association of Nigerian comrade Otori M. Saliu and the chairman iron and steel committee of the Nigerian society of engineers
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