The Minister on Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday revealed that the House of Representatives duly appropriated the sum of N2,096,500.00 (Two billion, ninety six million, five hundred thousand naira ) for the concessioning of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in the 2017 budget, wondering why the same House has now turned around to attack the Ministry for implementing the law.

The Minister who addressed journalists in Abuja on Thursday, said both the Ministry and the National Assembly had been on the same page regarding the need to concession the Steel Complex adding that the Ministry had been canvassing the concessioning option in all its meetings and sectoral debates with the law makers.



He said government had taken a decision not to spend an additional one dollar on Ajaokuta, since over $8 billion dollar had been sunk into the project by successive administrations since 1982.

Instead, he said government felt it would be better to give the complex to a credible operator with proven technical capacity and financial wherewithal to run it more profitably.

This he said necessitated the appropriation of over N2billion dollar for the concessioning in the 2017 appropriation duly passed into law by the same law makers now opposed to concessioning.

“We are just implementing what was passed by the National Assembly, that is why we are surprised that we have been subjected to an unwarranted attack over the matter in the last one week”.

Dr Fayemi said the March 1, 2018 sectoral debate which himself and the Minister of State Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari, could not attend, and for which they duly notified the law makers, was the first and only time they would be absent at such debates, having attended four previously, with focus on Ajaokuta and the steel sector.



The Minister stated that most of the allegations made against him, the Minister of State and the Ministry officials were not only unfounded but malicious. He said while the House members reserved the right to discuss and pass resolutions on national issues, he took serious exception to a member of the House going outside the hallowed chambers to make spurious allegations against public servants.

He revealed also that the technical audit, which would determine the actual cost of fixing Ajaokuta Steel Complex, was still on going, and would be ready in six weeks.

Specifically, Dr Fayemi said that contrary to insinuations, the Russian government had never approached the Ministry nor the Federal Government to signify interest in running the complex.

He , however, confirmed that some companies in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Nigeria had expressed interest in taking over the Ajaokuta Complex, but that the Ministry’s stand was that they should wait till an open and competitive bid for the steel complex would be opened.

This, he said would happen after certain things have been put in place including the technical audit.

Fayemi said that the idea that the Ajaokuta complex was 98 per cent completed can best be determined by the outcome of the technical audit, without which he said insistence on the 98 per cent completion amount to mere sloganeering.



Fayemi said: “Ajaokuta is an inherited challenge. The Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration concessioned it, the President Umaru Yar’Adua government revoked it. And the case went to London Court of Arbitration. Its resolution in 2016 led to the signing of the Modified NIOMCO Agreement, which ceded the complex back to the Federal Government and NIOMCO to Global Steel.

““No fewer than 14 parties have shown interest in running the complex, but government’s position is that we would not do any concessioning without a technical audit.

“PriceWaterHouse Cooper was engaged to do a review of the company’s indebtedness and statutory liabilities as part of the settlement agreement.

“The National Assembly appropriated N2,096,500 for Ajaokuta Concessioning in the 2017 Appropriation duly passed into law. We are just commencing what was passed into law by the National Assembly.

“This is why I am surprised at how we have been subjected to vitriolic attack in the last one week. The March 1 sectoral debate which we could not attend was the first and only one myself and the Minister of State were unable to attend and we duly communicated this to the leadership of the House.



“We take exception to allegations that are not backed up by evidence. Allegations that officials of the Ministry have had their hands tied by concessionaire is quite unfounded.

“The Russian government has not indicated interest in Ajaokuta. Yes we have had offers form companies from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and even Nigeria.

“Yes, I have met with the Russian Ambassador the same way I have met with the Ukrainian Ambassador and many other ambassadors. The Russian ambassador told me they can offer technical, management or audit support. But not as a country bringing in money to take over the complex.

“Many are saying Ajaokuta is 98 per cent completed. The Ministry believes that can only be determined by the outcome of the technical audit, which should be ready in about six weeks.

Fayemi reiterated that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was being painstaking with the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, giving the fact that the steel complex had been a victim of bad planning and poor execution by past administrations.



“Our interest is to make it work, so that it can create jobs and wealth, and we are ready to work with the National Assembly and other stakeholders to ensure its success,” Fayemi added.


https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/amp/news/264219/reps-appropriatedn2billion-for-ajaokuta-concessioning-min.html#click=https:///rMn2BHGcdp

Ask OBJ him get some questions to answer

This place is a sinking hole for corrupt practices

Oju Ole ree......... OLE

hmmmmmnn

Don't know what that means but they should repair their road please! Traveling via that route ain't funny at all.

Nde Obosi kwenu!

all of them should go to hell...
since i was born even in my mothers womb have hearing they want
to revive the mill

Corrupt politicians.... mtchewwww

The looting machine by Tom Burgis explains all the thievery in Africa mining sites.

One day go be one day sha

Ogaooo,

Hmmm

APC stalwart always running to the media claiming the are saints. Oga fayemi go and appear before the house commitee and stop crying foul. NIGERIANS GO GET YOUR VOTER'S CARD LET'S KICK APC OUT COME 2019

Call the Russians, don't be afraid of western sanctions, the Russians built the mill to 98% before they left in 1994 because the Nigerian government could not fulfil their own part if the deal.

Watch this to get an idea of what is wrong with this country


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1QTfGYj_0g

This countriii don tire me....chai !

Government should just sell that Ajaokuta steel to a serious company. Enough of spending money on that sinkhole.

Kophschmerzen:
The looting machine by Tom Burgis explains all the thievery in Africa mining sites.

Pls can you give send me the book on whatsapp? i can see a place to download it for free.. thanks.. my number is 0 8 1 3 4 7 4 1 9 2 2

Another twist

They will still share it among themselves

abes:
Call the Russians, don't be afraid of western sanctions, the Russians built the mill to 98% before they left in 1994 because the Nigerian government could not fulfil their own part if the deal.

Watch this to get an idea of what is wrong with this country


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1QTfGYj_0g

Russians didn't built it but USSR built it and now we have it splitter to three independent countries, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, and even 98% isn't the exact percentage of what has been done there, its just a slogan made erroneously, be that as it may, an international technical audition is in going at the Ajaokuta and it will come out in the next few weeks. If after that Russians want to be in charge, they should show interest. More so, Ukraine has comfirmed that 60% ofbMaterials and professionals used for the Ajaokuta are from their part of the then USSR... and as well what to be manager of the Ajaokuta... So the ground is open fro nay body. And if anyone think Minister is trying to play smart, they should go through the presidency to acquire it if they have what it takes Blackmail of The Ministers to get the Ajaokuta with never work.

sojiboy:


Fayemi said: “Ajaokuta is an inherited challenge. The Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration concessioned it, the President Umaru Yar’Adua government revoked it. And the case went to London Court of Arbitration. Its resolution in 2016 led to the signing of the Modified NIOMCO Agreement, which ceded the complex back to the Federal Government and NIOMCO to Global Steel.

https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/amp/news/264219/reps-appropriatedn2billion-for-ajaokuta-concessioning-min.html#click=https:///rMn2BHGcdp

Why did u people signed the same concession agreement (including the more than 25 typographical errors) that was prepared by Jonathan Govt, if truly you guys want to do things differently.

Samuel89:


Pls can you give send me the book on whatsapp? i can see a place to download it for free.. thanks.. my number is 0 8 1 3 4 7 4 1 9 2 2

I bought the paperback on Amazon. I would have send you the book, but I don't live in Nigeria.

Kophschmerzen:


I bought the paperback on Amazon. I would have send you the book, but I don't live in Nigeria.

Ok. Thanks..

so if there is 14 interested companies..that means there is goldmine there..why not take on one of them as joint ventures just like they do with oil wells? must it be sold before it is operated..or are there vested interest that makes it concession only or not..there is something missing ..

dongc:
so if there is 14 interested companies..that means there is goldmine there..why not take on one of them as joint ventures just like they do with oil wells? must it be sold before it is operated..or are there vested interest that makes it concession only or not..there is something missing ..

It is not being sold. It is being concessioned. Mean we rent it out. After the time of rent, they either renew or it becomes ours back. Why is the lady interested in Nigeria spending on it when private funds can be invested. The Trump she mentioned, was she told any of the steel plant is owned by the US?

I know What that means..they tried to sell it before concessions attempts..how about joint ventures like I mentioned..outright government ownership with credible people running..ppp has always been a smoke screen...they milk the government and people..

mfm04622:


It is not being sold. It is being concessioned. Mean we rent it out. After the time of rent, they either renew or it becomes ours back. Why is the lady interested in Nigeria spending on it when private funds can be invested. The Trump she mentioned, was she told any of the steel plant is owned by the US?

asobo:
APC stalwart always running to the media claiming the are saints. Oga fayemi go and appear before the house commitee and stop crying foul. NIGERIANS GO GET YOUR VOTER'S CARD LET'S KICK APC OUT COME 2019

So for the people to hear from both sides of the divide is running to the media?

This current Senate and House are boggling people down with their incessant summons. I guess you didn't read the part where the minister said both him and the minister of state has attended countless meetings/interactions with the house.

It is getting obvious that the House wants to bend the Minister to take a particular line of action. Which is unnecessary meddling. The house is to make laws and have oversight.

The executive is to execute projects and programs of the government. If the Ministry has not contravened any law/due process, they should leave them to do their jobs.

This current NASS should drop this irritating habit of trying to be NASS and the Executive at the same time.

They awarded money to concession the plant, now they are raising alarm about ongoing plans to concession the plant instead of the government putting money to complete it.

Are they not jokers?? Did they appropriate money to complete the plant in the budget? Was it not money to concession the plant that was awarded? Why are they now raising alarm?

Is it not a pointer that the money they put into the budget for the concessioning was put there as a smokescreen for chopping. And they are now raising alarm because the minister is not ready to play ball.

abes:
Call the Russians, don't be afraid of western sanctions, the Russians built the mill to 98% before they left in 1994 because the Nigerian government could not fulfil their own part if the deal.

Watch this to get an idea of what is wrong with this country


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1QTfGYj_0g

Russians or Ukrainians? Just calling them and handing them the plant does not in anyway make sense. Our mumu just start be that.

agabusta:


Russians or Ukrainians? Just calling them and handing them the plant does not in anyway make sense. Our mumu just start be that.

What is wrong in renegotiating terms with them? Be it Russians or Ukrainians, they own the technology. They built it to the stage it is now.
We've tried this round peg on square hole approach for so long without any success, why continue?