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Revive Ajaokuta - Politics - Nairaland

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Government Completes 22MW Ajaokuta Power Plant / Amaechi, Yahaya Bello Flag Off Dredging Of River Niger Ajaokuta-Onitsha Waterway / 'Buhari Revive Ajaokuta Steel Company': Nigerian Youths Protest In Abuja (Pics) (2) (3) (4)

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Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 8:44am On Jan 15, 2017
*TO EVERY NIGERIAN YOUTH WHO DOESN'T FEEL MOTIVATED*


There is no sacrifice too big for a project such as that bordering around the resuscitation of Ajaokuta steel company, Nigeria's key to industrialization. If we have decided to be a part of this Noble course it means we have completely and diametrically agreed to carry whatever cross it comes with, no matter how heavy. This we do with the consciousness that the road will be tough and tortuous, many may be discouraged and consider throwing in the towel, many may think it a wild goose chase or building castles in the air. But let me tell you something, nothing good has ever come easy.

America is great right? She got independent from the same colonial master as us. You envy her land right? They were as messy, bushy, rocky, irregular as ours. She has had her own fair share of corruption and mismanagement, her own fair share of wars and civil disturbance, but today she stands as the most developed in the world.

Let's come a little closer home- Dubai. Dubai was a desert about 30years ago. They were then merchants, trading mostly in corals, but today they are the number one tourist destination in the world scooping well over $6b in just tourism alone. We wish to spend holidays there, don't we? There are 5 structures one sees outside the ionosphere when one looks down on earth, Dubai has 2 of these structures, America has one and China has another.

All these people had one thing in common- the character. They possessed the character, the zeal and resolution to change. To use their resources to make life's stress a little easier to bear. They were united as we appear to be today. They were goal driven as we are today. They were motivated as we claim to be today. They were willing to sacrifice as we have promised to today.

They had the bad guys too, they had the rich bad guys that were all about their immediate gains but they didn't let that bother them, they fended for themselves without resorting to these big rich guys by believing in their abilities and capacity, and they boycotted these bad guys to be what they are today.

A Lot of them that fought valiantly and patriotically are long gone, their children however are on their lands, not globe-trotting begging from one country to another, not being molested or racially abused because of the sacrifices of their forebears. Now we wish to be in their lands because everything seems rightly situated where they belonged in their lands.

Why is our case different? Simple, our forebears were greedy. They ate their cake and had it. They grabbed their neighbor's and had it too, now we are left with nothing. The sad picture is that their heirs are carrying on from where they had left off. Now that is sad.

Quite a number of us here have kids, don't we? Take a poignant look at your child or children. When you die, what world would you have left them in? A world where opportunities abound for them or one whose future is bleak and precarious, one which the certainty of another generation is unsure?
We can still safe Nigeria, together, determined with a new character and discipline.

Sacrifice your time, last dime, and sweat for the children yet unborn, your children's children so that they can have a land they can call theirs proudly with all they can ever dream of in it. So that they are not made slaves in another man's land. You have a golden opportunity, don't waste it off in complacency.

The time was yesterday, but we can still salvage it today.

#revievajaokuta
#Industrialrevolution


*Dr. Okeme Arome*

_(social activist, medical doctor)_

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 2:04pm On Jan 15, 2017
Good day great minds.

Today we shall storm Facebook just as we did on twitter yesterday and believe me the effect was imposing. So we shall make our mark today on Facebook. Let's make a little noise with social media as we prepare for the protest march.

Today we shall be making use of the hashtag (#) and the Facebook tag (though it doesn't work for all).
We shall send some images later for which we are all required to post with an accompanying article (bothering on the resuscitation and revival of Ajaokuta).
Now the idea is to precede every keyword in your article with the # sign.
For example: words like; #industry, #industrialization, #economy, #nigeria, #ajaokuta, #iron-ore, #Itakpe, #kogi etc.
The need for this is to allow indexing, and that way your posts can easily be discovered through Facebook search.
And for names mentioned on your post you could tag them up so that they can also get the post on their timelines. I am sure we all know how tagging works on FB.

I do hope we all understand this.

The time is 4pm to 6pm.

If you can't write a post you may visit our fb page and share every post you find there regarding the steel plant.

https://www.facebook.com/ReviveAjaokuta/

Thank you. Happy weekend
mynd44, vedaxcool, QuotaSystem, ishilove, laudate, sarrki TonyeBarcanister

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by vedaxcool(m): 2:10pm On Jan 15, 2017
Endorsed. ... it is about time we begin to channel pressure on the Ajaokuta matter.

1 Like

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Blue3k(m): 4:09pm On Jan 15, 2017
Done
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Nobody: 4:35pm On Jan 15, 2017
Tag your friends and let us make this happen...
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Nobody: 5:50pm On Jan 15, 2017
Why when we have this:
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 7:39am On Jan 17, 2017
We are just one foolish Nation wallahi! You see the Indians doctored the settlement out of court and grab the most potent aspect of our steel dreams, the raw materials at itakpe in the guise of making their $525m which they claimed the pumped into our steel sector back. Nothing on ground or abroad verified their claims but because they had government conspirators and accomplices who are presently enjoying from this treacherous, unpatroitic, treasonable arrangements, they are still holding us by the balls. They are comfortably mining our iron ores with no resistance whatsoever! I think they say wisdom comes with old age, why are our leaders not wise enough then?

For how long will they continue this mining and depleting of our natural reserves? A day they spend there, they would work their heads out just to scoop as much as they can seeing that they have gotten Nigeria by the whiskers and knowing fully well that one day we would arise from our slumber and they would be kicked out. So they would work tirelessly before that day. We need to arise today!

The time was yesterday but we can still salvage it today.

Are we are angry enough?!

1 Like

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 11:37pm On Jan 18, 2017
A slave or a Saint?
Ajaokuta Revival, a clarion call!

I bring you greetings once more in the name of struggle.
Focusing on the dreams of tomorrow and forgetting the history of the past is profitable and conservative in achieving our goal(s) but reminiscing on the past history put us on track and safe us from such quagmire.

I have an uncle that was giving a brand new Peugeot 504 upon obtaining his Bachelor in Education (geography) from ABU.

I have a neighbour that turned 'free education' in their time into a song for my hearing.

Our roads, institutions and refineries were constructed and built with agricultural produce but today, farmers are far less valued than bush animals in the hands of Herdsmen.

They know you are not safe in the farm, yet they told you to go into agriculture.
They refused to fund education so you can graduate as 'half baked'
They have bogus salary and allowances, go on vacation overseas, bought most expensive and exotic cars for themselves and family members yet they told your parents no money to pay salary or declared them ghost workers.

You sing their praises, massage their ego for using tax payers money. Oh no, may be you think they are saint, you are no different from a slave.

Wake up from your slumber. How long? Again I ask how long?
They promised jobs just to win your vote! You were fooled!
Do you care to ask were is/are the industries?

Initiating and fueling ethno- religious crisis and recruit you in force(s) and use you as a willing tools is not a help. If you think is a help, wake-up.

Ajaokuta steel company have the potential to employe you if fully operational but you know what? It was abandoned so you will continue to be a slave to them and their children. You think they are saint? Sorry you are just been deceived!

Remove that veil, shake that dust off you neck and break that yoke of slavery. It is not too late a time to start. Be a saviour by resistantly refuse slavery.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Let's come together and constitute a strong tide of resistance against this governmental tyranny.
Hope rises, freedom knock and greatness is at sight if we can damn the consequences and turn the tide of continuous slavery.
How long will you continue to serve your slave Master?

Join Ajaokuta Revival Now! Don't just be a history reader, Be part of history maker.

...............Comr. Pharm Wada Success

2 Likes

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 7:53am On Jan 24, 2017
ARISE NIGERIANS, LETS WALK FOR AJAOKUTA/ITAKPE . SHARE!!!

Beloved Nigerians, for over a year we have worked very hard in breaking the twisted chains of corruption surrounding our steel sector. Our president's intention towards the Russians was hijacked by the manipulative cabals who operate even in his cabinet.

Look around us - extreme hunger, poor education and hospitals, our roads are death traps. Bob Marley said "In the abundance of water, a fool is thirsty". NIGERIANS, HOW MUCH LONGER SHALL WE REMAIN FOOLS

Look around us, abandoned industries littered from the North to the South, East to West while the "SYSTEM" keeps raping our innocence while feasting on our pains. HOW LONG

Nigerians WAKE UP!!!

WAKE UP AND FIGHT FOR AJAOKUTA/ITAKPE. Lets join hands and change our destiny once and for all. The whites called us the giant of Africa; now, we are mocked by fellow African. NO, NOT ANY MORE!!!

ARISE NIGERIA!

You have fallen too long into the deepest slumber that the African countries who once looked up to you are being salvaged by countries of other continents. Oh, you too are being savaged? By China you said?
Don't you know you are made by God to be the backbone of Africa? Do you think a population of over 180m which made you the 7th most populous country on earth is for me rhetorics? Such vast natural resources in abundant commercial quantities being stolen day and night undocumentedly while pockets of your leaders are fattened.

Do you know that by now, you should be giving aids and financial support to poorer sister countries in Africa; instead you are borrowing from China. SUCH SHAME.

What would Sir Tarawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello etc think of you today? Would they be proud THINK NIGERIA THINK!!!

WAKE UP NIGERIA...Your people are dying, your pride is faint, your candle is fading out...you need to rebuild else you become a calamity to Africa and the world.

LETS RAISE OUR VOICES,
LETS MARCH OUR FEET,
LETS POUR OUR HEARTS TO THE PRESIDENT OF ALL CHOICES
LETS CALL ON HIM TO REVIVE AJAOKUTA
SO WE CAN ALL BEGIN TO HEAL NEAR AND AFAR.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION :

OUR DEMANDS
To prevail on the government of Nigeria to facilitate the following:
1. That Mr. President forthwith, directly handles all businesses relating to Ajaokuta/Itakpe Iron Ore and Steel Plants as a way of cutting out the cabal, thereby getting first hand information on the processes and procedures involved in its revival;
2. That President Muhammadu Buhari sets up a high powered Delegation to meet with The President of Russia Mr. Vladimir Putin to open bilateral talks that include finding ways of bringing back TPE (TyazhPromExport), the original builders of the plant to complete the remaining 2% for the plant’s take off;
3. That royalties and compensation be paid to the community that houses the steel plant, including families of those who lost their lives in a genuine cause of fighting patriotically for the protection of our national interest (Ogaminana Massacre of 2008);
4. That President Muhammadu Buhari terminate forthwith any agreement with Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (GINL), and that the company be declared Persona non grata in Nigeria;
If achieved, these objectives will no doubt start the conversation to bring Nigeria close to becoming a major player in the industrialized world, a vision that should be shared by all Nigerians.

To further our cause, we have planned a series of activities:
The Ajaokuta Awareness Walk - The Ajaokuta Awareness Walk is an organised sensitization march that will start from Eagle square and end at National Assembly complex and Aso Villa. The key highlights include a Media Briefing, Speeches by Featured Speakers, Poetry Readings, Video & Music Presentations etc.

Please note that The Awareness Walk is NOT to a protest against the government, rather it’s a campaign to draw the attention to issues before everyday Nigerians and our government in a manner that is positive and inspiring.

Date: January 25, 2017
Venue:Eagle Square, Abuja
Call Time: March Time: 8:00am
Call to Action: 10:00am
Join the Awareness Walk & online
Facebook: Revive Ajaokuta For Nigerians
Email: reviveajaokuta@gmail.com
twitter: @reviveajaokuta

COME ON NIGERIAN!!! LETS DO IT
fizznation, modath, Atiku2019, Mynd44, bolustic, laudate

1 Like

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by laudate: 11:08am On Jan 27, 2017
Going on a walk to agitate for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Mill is a noble cause but more needs to be done to get it off the ground. A coalition of public technocrats and skilful private-sector engineers, financiers, project teams and commercial firms need to come together, to revive the plant.

The technology used in Ajaokuta was said to be obsolete. Others have claimed that this is untrue.The equipment needs to be overhauled, retooled and replaced, as soon as possible. To do that, massive funds are needed and skilful expertise.

The legal tangle that accompanied the privatisation of the Ajaokuta complex needs to be unravelled and finally put to rest. The matter is long, but give me time to finish up some work and come back here, to address these points.
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 11:20am On Jan 30, 2017
FG Urged To Revive Ajaokuta Steel By Tunde Oguntola — Jan 29, 2017 6:12 am | Leave a comment A nongovernmental organization, Ajaokuta/ Itakpe Revival Movement (ARM), a component of the Nigeria Alliance for Industrial Revolution and Advancement (NAIRA) has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency revive Ajaokuta/Itakpe Iron Ore and Steel Plants. Speaking to journalist shortly after an awareness walk not a protest against the government but, rather a campaign to draw the attention of Nigerians and the federal government to issues as well as the gains of completing the Ajaokuta/Itakpe Iron Ore and Steel Plants, the convener, NAIRA, Dr. Okeme Arome called on President Muhammadu Buhari to handle all businesses relating to the steel plants as a way of cutting out the cabal, bureaucratic bottleneck and also getting firsthand information on the processes and procedures involved in its revival. Arome urged President Buhari to set up a high powered delegation to meet with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin to open bilateral talks that include finding ways of bringing back TyazhPromExport (TPE), the original builders of the plant to complete the remaining two per cent for the plant’s take off. Arome also urged the federal government to facilitate royalties and compensation for the community that houses the steel plant, including families of those who lost their lives in a genuine cause of fighting patriotically for the protection of our national interest during the Ogaminana Massacre of 2008. ‘’We urge President Buhari to terminate forthwith any agreement with Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (GINL), and that the company be declared Persona non grata in Nigeria. If achieved, these objectives will no doubt start the conversation to bring Nigeria close to becoming a major player in the industrialized world, a vision that should be shared by all Nigerians,’’ he added.
...Culled from LEADERSHIP NEWS PAPER.
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by shaddoww: 11:53am On Jan 30, 2017
For my Osogbo here, they sold Osogbo steel rolling to Dangote who wasn't even the highest bidder and all he has done is use it as a cement deport.
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by laudate: 1:05am On Feb 01, 2017
shaddoww:
For my Osogbo here, they sold Osogbo steel rolling to Dangote who wasn't even the highest bidder and all he has done is use it as a cement deport.

How sad!! cry

1 Like

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 9:59am On Feb 01, 2017
Oga Laudate PM
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 10:25am On Feb 02, 2017
Engr James Ismaila:
REVIVAL OF AJAOKUTA STEEL COMPANY IS THE ANSWER TO THE PRESENT MENACE OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND LOW STANDARD OF LIVING IN NIGERIA.
PART 1.
Great compatriots, I count it a great honor and a rear privilege to use this medium to express my feelings concerning our age long abandoned company- Ajaokuta Steel Company Nigeria Limited. According to her vision statement, the company was established for the “Production of quality steel and steel products for the industrialization of Nigeria while meeting all standards” After many years, the company cannot boast of meeting up to 10% of her vision.

In my own view as a Metallurgist, I believe that the reason why many Nigerians decide to keep mute on the passive status of AJASTEEL, is because they know little about the inherent benefits which everyone stands to enjoy once the Company swings into action. Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company has the capacity to industrialize the whole Nigeria. Did you say really? Yes! The whole Nigeria will be industrialized. Quickly read through this page to know the rationale behind my assertion.

Ajaokuta Steel Company is primarily an Iron and Steel production company. Iron and Steel are produced through blast furnace reduction of Iron ore. During the production processes, raw materials like Iron ore(Haematite or Magnitite), Limestone and Coke are charged into the blast furnace to obtain Pig iron, sludge and other bye products.
Raw materials like Limestone, Coke and Iron ore are mineral resources which are found in abundance in Nigeria. The revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company will awaken the dead Enugu Coal Production plant. This is because Coke is obtained from coal through destructive distillation process. Also, limestone has been discovered to be deposited in large quantity in various states within the four geographic locations in Nigeria i.e Abia, Ondo, Borno, akwa ibom e.t.c. The Revival of the Steel plant will also create great market for the raw material ( limestone) which is still wasting at the moment in their various locations. Iron ores are also deposited in large quantity in various states in Nigeria, another employment opportunity and great source of revenue.

Ajaokuta Steel Company Nigeria Limited by design, is to produce per year:
48,000 tonnes of tar: This can be used for road construction
210,240,000cm3 of Coke oven gas : It can be used as source of fuel
350,000 tonnes of steam : Useful in food industry, textile industry, Power generation e.t.c
12,000 tonnes of Ammonium Sulpahate (fertilizer) : For food production
Billet mill (BM), Medium Section and Structural Mill (MSSM), Finishing Mill (FM): All these are useful in engineering constructions.

In addition, blast furnace is designed to run for a period of at least ten (10) years, before it can be switched off for routine maintenance like replacement of its lining bricks. This simply means that Nigeria will experience an uninterrupted power supply for ten (10) years. Yes ten years. It is possible! The refractory bricks of the Blast furnace are made from Alumino Silicate clay. Alumino Silicate Clay is readily available in large quantity in many state of the Federation. Your guess is as good as mine. That is more job opportunities.

There are many other benefits that are inherent in the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Project, but time will not permit me to go further. Join us in rendering your VOICE to the revival of this GREAT project, for us and the future of our children yet unborn.
Revival of AJASTEEL is going to mark the end of recession, hunger and other negative social vices in Nigeria.
LONG LIVE NIGERIA, LONG LIVE AJAOKUTA STEEL COMPANY, SHORT LIVE RECESSION, SHORT LIVE UNEMPLOYMENT.

1 Like

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 10:06pm On Feb 02, 2017
Beloved Nigerians, I believe a number of you have read this false story circulating. Well, this is expected because our AIT interview squarely hit the "untouchables". I have decided to share the link to help them out with their mischief. Truth shall remain constant.

As I read the piece carefully while laughing at the numerous mistakes, I wondered "Who would be behind this? Fayemi, Obasanjo, Alhaji or Gov. Bello? Then I came across paragraph 23 of the repetitive piece...read below:

" We wanted to know the real reason Natasha is blackmailing everybody in the steel sector, who is behind this her restlessness and who is paying for her travels on the matter. We wanted to know what gave her the impetus to be abusing our state governor, why she has been abusing the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and many other leaders while campaigning and praising the so-called Russian company".

Dear Governor Yahaya Bello,

I hope you are well. I did make some heavy allegations against you and I do have a name and a face to it. If you feel any of my words are lies or unjust, please institute a legal action against me and I shall happily meet you in court with all of the evidences ... so many more than I have shared. Mind you, these evidences have been submitted to the security houses in Nigeria and are presently in the chambers of 5 senior lawyers all around Nigeria. This is to curb your excessive actions which you may take out of vendetta.

May I remind you that we still have an open case at the Force Headquarters instituted by the former IGP Arase. The content you are very much aware of as you pleaded endlessly I end the case as you would never allow any hurt come to me and my family.

Well, YOUR EXCELLENCY, I put your words to you and remind you that the judos revival of Ajaokuta and itakpe is more important than you and myself. The longest you shall stay in the corridors of power is 7 years but a fully operational Ajaokuta will last hundreds of years.

President Buhari is a man I believe in and it hurts to see some members of his economic team and even state executives shy away from the vision he has for Nigeria. I don't care about APC or PDP principles, ( they are all the same) but I care about the man Buhari and just like his dear wife Hajiya Aisha cried our via BBC, his good government has indeed been hijacked by unpatriotic miscreants...who by God's special grace, will NEVER succeed.

May I also use this medium to state that HRM Ado Ibrahim is a father to me and he has been of tremendous support towards the Original Builder's return. Never, did I insult his highness or mention him during the AIT's interview.

Moreover, the monies used for the Ajaokuta Awareness Walk was raised by donations of passionate Nigerians through this account:

Revive Ajaokuta, 0235425152 GTBank.

A sum of 822,000 (eight hundred and twenty two thousand naira)was contributed and I had to cook the meal we all ate at home to save cost. This might be strange to you but honesty and patriotism is a virtue some of us still have.

Finally, I received a call from Daily post that someone in your team gave them this same story to publish. I shall advice that as you send your boys with crumbs to defame me, make sure you do have every evidence of funds I received from the Vaswani brothers. This would be necessary in the lawsuit.

Have a very nice evening.
Barrister Natasha Akpoti

1 Like

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 10:39pm On Feb 02, 2017
FOCUS NIGERIA With Gbenga Aruleba featuring explosive reveals on Ajaokuta Steel by Barr. Natasha Akpoti and Revive Ajaokuta Convener Dr. Arome Okeme will repeat on Friday February 3 at 10.00am on AIT. Don't miss it!
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Lanretoye(m): 10:44pm On Feb 02, 2017
Amoto94:
You think Nigeria starts and ends in Lagos right? It is your type that is making Nigeria remaining backward because all you care for is your short-term gains at the expense of long-term gains. Ajaokuta revival should be a concern for all Nigerians and it shouldn't be that it will only become functional when it's been sold to Lagos government.
so I'm not entitled toy own opinion?
all the fg budget on ajaokuta over the years has yield what?
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Blue3k(m): 11:14pm On Feb 02, 2017
Federal Governmentwant to build rail line to help transport ore to plant.

Shameless plug: https://www.nairaland.com/3598193/nigeria-plans-build-railway-revitalise
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 12:01pm On Feb 03, 2017
Lanretoye:
ajaokuta can never revive unless it is sold to lagos state govt.
You think Nigeria starts and ends in Lagos right? It is your type that is making Nigeria remaining backward because all you care for is your short-term gains at the expense of long-term gains. Ajaokuta revival should be a concern for all Nigerians and it shouldn't be that it will only become functional when it's been sold to Lagos government.
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 8:57pm On Feb 03, 2017
FOCUS NIGERIA With Gbenga Aruleba featuring explosive reveals on Ajaokuta Steel by Barr. Natasha Akpoti and Revive Ajaokuta Convener Dr. Arome Okeme will repeat on Friday February 3 at 10.00am on AIT. Don't miss it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9DPXDmLm1Q
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 9:00am On Feb 12, 2017
THE SEARCH FOR TYAZPROMEXPORT AND THE NIGERIAN SOCIAL MEDIA YOUTH.

Over the past few weeks a lot of news have made headlines on many 'mediaphere' in Nigeria. One of such news is the imbroglio entwined in the AJAOKUTA steel integrated plant Saga.

A lot of questions have been asked by various sections of Nigerians, most calling on government to re-engage the original builders, and others, who have very little knowledge about the activities surrounding the grounding of the plant, being ignorant or indifferent.

Questions of whether the original builders are still in existence and possessed the requisite wherewithal to complete the project is sadly gaining popularity, whereas a more germane question would have been whether they were willing to still partner Nigeria to complete the project or not, and not of their existence and competence. A little history of the Soviet Union may provide light as to whether this Russian company still exists or not.


Soviet Russia, as Russia before the USSR was known, was a dynasty headed by a Tsar. After the various Russian revolution that occurred between 1905 and 1922 when the Soviet Union was eventually formed, the system of governance slowly metamorphosed to the socialist form. As other states in Russia practiced this system of rule that gave power to the proletariats and her subsequent conquest in neighboring countries and propagation of Socialism, the newly formed USSR, in 1922, grew to a world power with Russia maintaining the capital of the union in Moscow.

Joseph Stalin who ruled from 1924 to 1953 was instrumental to USSR attaining world power as it formed the Eastern bloc then. It is within the period of his rule that most Russian construction companies were formed and industrialization took an astronomical dimension. During the cold war which emerged in 1947 just a little after the World War 2, the drive to gain control of the world politically, economically and socially led to a fight for the influence and control of other countries directly, and by proxy, against the Western bloc who were also forming alliances against the USSR.

This must have led to Russia's interest in steel development at the prompting of Nigeria's 1st Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, in the mid-50s and Gen. Gowon's subsequent visit to Russia in the late 60s to consolidate the prime minister's request for the construction of a steel plant. This also informed the decree No.19 that formed the National Steel Development Authority (NSDA) that would later transform to the Ajaokuta Steel Integrated complex decree instituted by Gen.Gowon.

TyazhPromExport(TPE) was founded by Russians in 1957, and as at 1973, via a letter to the Nigerian authority, stated plainly that they were a Russian company. At the disbanding of the USSR in 1991, Russia still maintained the system of governance of socialism while other member countries, mostly controlled via proxy by Russia, that were influenced by the capitalist Western bloc, gained independence and practiced other forms of governance especially Capitalism.

It must be emphasized that most of the companies existed in Russia, and they thrived and even did more businesses from Russia after the dissolution of the union.

Tyazpromexport has built over 90 metallurgical and steel plants the world over and all are working to full capacity. The largest steel plant in India was built by them. They also had one of the largest integrated plant in China built by them. When the Chinese and Indians have problems with their plants they call on the masters- Russians. The question begs, why don't we stick to this masters?

In 2001 when president Obasanjo visited Russia to renegotiate the engagement of the original builders, he didn't think that because the Soviet Union had been disbanded in 1991 there was no need to go to Russia any more, he knew better. But not only did he go there, the original builders came down to Nigeria at the instance of President Putin to undertake due diligence, and also drafted a report within 3 months, a characteristic of an effective and serious business minded company. The rest after that is history. For more on the current state of the TPE, please refer to their site.http://tyazh.ru/en/main/history/.

But for the Altruistic heroics and bravery of Barr. Natasha Akpoti, many Nigerians would not have been this informed about the state of one of Nigeria’s greatest national assets that lies forlorn in waste while we still complained of unemployment and under-development as a result of a certain insignificant group of people who have through their actions and inactions put us in this state of dystopia. Working at full scale, the Plant is able to provide over 10,000 direct jobs and over 500,000 indirect jobs.

One needn’t be a skyrocket scientist or a metallurgical engineer to read and understand plane English used in the various corrupt agreements entered into between grossly incompetent companies (SOLGAS and GIHL) and our corrupt leaders in the past and make intelligent inferences logically as to what our collective efforts should be geared towards in a view to reviving the steel plant. This is called patriotism, a quality Barr. Natasha Akpoti chose to display.

Putting the ASCL for bid is unfortunately only going to lead to her final disintegration and internment. Where is Nitel and her likes put up for privatization today? We know privatization is just one means to hoodwink Nigerians while the company is selfishly handed over to stooges and cronies of corrupt officials.

Furthermore, hoping the TPE will join the bidding process for a company that they had built to 98% as at 1994 is not only wicked but heartless, unpatriotic and self-serving. For a company that was frustrated out of the country, reinvited then further frustrated after they had done due diligence towards resuscitating the steel plant, inviting them for bidding is an insult to their sensibilities.

For all the mind-boggling revelations and patriotism displayed by Barr. Natasha Akpoti through the expendture of energy, resources and time to uncovering some of these conspiracies by government officials under whose watch we had entrusted our national assets, even to the extent of traveling to Russia and meeting with the management of TPE just to ensure Nigerians get firsthand information about the root cause of the inability of their steel giant to produce liquid steel, she deserves a nationalistic honor.

The rest is left for us as a people to decide our fate. With all these revelations and Nigerians are still in the comfort of their homes leaving everything in the hands of God and praying fervently for those involved to be exposed, it appears nothing else can provoke us to demand for answers and seek justice. The youths have been immersed in the world of penury and squalor so much so that a few crumbs and pittance is all that is required to silence them. Little wonder we cower and cringe in disgust, shout and wail our voices out at gatherings in protest, fight and inveigh ourselves on social media when corruption laden cases, having to do with our collective commonwealth, are discussed. Let's take for instance, the over N3B that was recovered in hard currencies in the kaduna home of a former NNPC boss 2 days ago that we have rightly made viral on social media like a blockbuster in Nollywood served to entertain us, what happens afterwards? Recently James Ibori returned from Prison after serving term for plundering our common wealth, we gave him a resounding hero's welcome and even prayed to God to extend his life, possibly to vote for him when he declares interest for the presidency. Nothing irates us any more, we have come to terms with the institutionalization of corruption and impunity in our country and sadly we have children we hope will live a better life after us, am sorry to say they may suffer worse fate if we continue to condone these malfeasances.

Our fate in the next 10 to 20 years is bound to remain the same if the system of governance and the level of impunity continues to be perpetuated and nursed jealously by our collective complacency and ignorance.
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by jesse8048(m): 9:30am On Feb 12, 2017
This is a wake up call to the youth.
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 9:42am On Apr 23, 2017
Russia Confirms Eagerness for Ajaokuta's Resumption

Beloved Nigerians, Please read the Russian Ambassador's interview on the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Russia.

Dear Hon. Fayemi,

I hope this meets you well. The Ambassador has just confirmed the authenticity and eagerness of the Original Builders of Ajaokuta TyazhPromExport (TPE) to resume works for the completion and operation of Ajaokuta steel company. This goes contrary to your words that the Russian Company TyazPromExport doesn't exist and isn't interested in the participation of Ajaokuta's resuscitation. Just in case you have forgotten, please watch your self speak here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LazxtcXt1UE . How can a company not exist yet communicate their lack of interest towards Ajaokuta?
You also mentioned at an interview recently that 3 Russian companies are interested in bidding for Ajaokuta's resuscitation... I laugh. Sir, there is ONLY ONE company recognized by the Russian and Nigerian government as the builders of Ajaokuta. The Ambassador mentioned ONLY TPE in his interview attached. Please don't encourage Chinese pseudo companies with a Russian name... we, the good citizens of Nigeria know the extent our leaders can go to manipulate Chinese investment processes in order to fatten their pockets for elections. Mr. Minister, please read and listen to HRM's Sanusi Lamido's interviews on China colonialism of Nigeria and don't fall us deeper into that messy category.

Nigerians, don't let anyone deceive or tell you lies. The original builders of Ajaokuta and willing, able and ready to revive Ajaokuta in other to create jobs and wealth for you and I. Russia has been a true and trusted friend of Nigeria and Africa as they didn't participate in the slave trade instead the secretly and sometimes openly helped African countries fight the colonial masters for independence

Nigeria must forge strategic alliances with countries that mean well for Nigeria. Not countries that participate in economic slavely and neo-colonialism.

Nigerian, stand up for the Nigeria that you deserve!!!

God bless us
Natasha Akpoti.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/russia-eager-for-resumption/194591.html
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Amoto94(m): 6:35am On Jun 27, 2017
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Blue3k(m): 6:52am On Jun 27, 2017
Pretty nice article. I only take their efforts seriouslywhen they sell it off to private company. Other than that it's a money pit to loot. I stave my bet it won't go through. If I'm wrong I'll confess and give proper dues to Buhari administration.

1 Like

Re: Revive Ajaokuta by juman(m): 7:00am On Jun 27, 2017
Dont expect any good news on ajaokuta from this clueless government.
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by EdoBoy90(m): 7:27am On Jun 27, 2017
I wept for my country as a Mechanical Engineer.

We will remain backward in stupidity forever.

The world is one million times ahead of us.
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by laudate: 6:54pm On Jun 27, 2017
This is where the Kogi senators, state govt and entire house of reps should focus on, and make their voices heard. Instead, they will be fighting petty squabbles and making a mockery of the entire region. Dr. Kayode Fayemi or whichever Minister is in charge of this sector, needs to step up his game, and make the revival of Ajaokuta, a top priority. sad

Seek investors and technical expertise from different companies around the world to join hands and revive this project. Technology in the steel sector has changed over the years, so efforts to get new investors with the appropriate technology in place, should be made. If the govt is wary of dealing solely with the Russians, then they can ask the Russians to team up with other accredited firms from different foreign countries to revive the project, with the shareholding spread out in such a way, as to give the Russians a minority stake. undecided

This thing is not rocket science. It is just that the fed govt lacks the will and determination to complete this project! angry
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by laudate: 7:05pm On Jun 27, 2017
August 15, 2016 - Ajaokuta: Last chance for targeted sale

NIGERIA got another chance last week to revitalise its steel industry when it re-possessed the Ajaokuta Steel Complex after protracted negotiations with the concessionaire. With arguably sub-Saharan Africa’s largest integrated steel production facility back in its hands, the Federal Government is once again well-placed to kick-start a thriving industrial revolution that has been 40 years in abeyance. This administration should avoid the mistakes of the past and opt for a guided and urgent privatisation.

While credit should go to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, who has restored purposefulness to the mining and steel sectors, there is little to cheer in the chequered story of steel in Nigeria. The agreement retrieved Ajaokuta from Global Steel Holdings Limited, the concessionaire that also runs Delta Steel Company Limited, Ovwian-Aladja. The pact, however, cedes the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company to Global Steel. Hopefully, should efforts to restart NIOMCO’s plants succeed, its ore would be available as raw materials for both the DSC and Ajaokuta.

Fayemi cannot afford to fail; he and President Muhammadu Buhari should pull out all the stops to ensure the success of the Road Map for the development of the steel and solid minerals sectors that the minister is driving.

The dream of thriving mining and steel sectors in Nigeria was conceived in the mid-1970s. The plan envisaged the establishment of NIOMCO, Ajaokuta, Delta Steel, and three rolling mills located in Jos, Osogbo and Katsina. The six state-owned companies were to be the pivot of an industrial take-off that would create hundreds of thousands of jobs, stimulate the local automobile industry, achieve self-sufficiency in steel and make Nigeria a regional hub for mining and allied industries.

But the dream was derailed almost from the scratch. Work started in Ajaokuta in 1979 and over $10 billion is estimated to have been spent on it so far. Its mandate to produce five million metric tonnes of steel per year has failed to materialise despite reaching 98 per cent completion. Its counterparts in Jos, Katsina and Osogbo have also failed, and have since been sold. Successive Nigerian governments have sabotaged the dream through policy somersaults, indifference and unbridled corruption.

First, they failed to provide external infrastructure such as access roads, railway tracks and power infrastructure as well as dredging a part of the River Niger to provide access for transporting some products and raw materials. They also failed to revive the coal mines and spur ancillary mining activities. Yet, these were integral to the master plan. Indeed, the current Administrator of the complex, Isah Onobere, reminded a team from the Kogi State Government in March that, unlike other steel projects in China and Europe, which were built in developed townships with advanced infrastructure already in place, Ajaokuta is a Greenfield project, requiring a huge investment on non-core steel making facilities.

This government should break the jinx that has kept Ajaokuta uncompleted for decades and unload it unto a first rate global brand name in steel production. It should ensure that Global Steel fulfils its part of the agreement to produce and supply iron ore to the DSC and Ajaokuta. There should be no more room for excuses.

Global Steel, which first won the concession to reactivate Ajaokuta in 2004, had the contract revoked in 2007 by the government for its failure to perform. But the firm insisted that it was unable to do much because the Nigerian government failed to fulfil its own side of the deal, such as providing gas supply, rail and road links without which the plant could not be fully put to use.

We restate our preference for a guided privatisation of Ajaokuta: an outright and urgent sale of majority equity to a reputable foreign steel producer, not an emergency consortium formed by Nigerian politicians, officials and their business accomplices. There is no Nigerian company today that has the knowledge, funds or technical know-how to run a steel plant of the magnitude of Ajaokuta. Unlike its corrupt predecessors, the Buhari administration should never lose sight of the overall objectives of privatisation. These are job creation, industrialisation, attraction of foreign direct investment, technology acquisition, export diversification and revenue generation.

Ajaokuta is said to be able to provide 75,000 direct jobs and one million indirect jobs in mining iron ore, coal, carbonates and refractories. Unlike the cronyism-guided power sector privatisation that has delivered darkness, debts and very meagre investment, Tiajpromexport, the Ukrainian firm that built the complex, says it is ready to invest $1 billion in it and has made proposals to the Federal Government.

Fayemi should familiarise himself with the global steel industry, which is currently wracked by excess capacity before choosing an investor. He and the Bureau of Public Enterprises should aim primarily at achieving self-sufficiency and saving the country the $4.5 billion Fayemi says it spent annually on importing steel products. Nigeria is perhaps the only country seeking to build an automobile industry without a viable domestic steel industry.

With global production exceeding demand since the global meltdown in 2008/09, attracting the right investor whose interests will dovetail with Nigeria’s, will tax the ingenuity of our officials. But the critical difference will be patriotism: privatisation has been given a bad name here because corruption and rent-taking marred previous sales of state assets. Buhari should drop the idea of concessioning; it has never worked well in Nigeria. Just sell to the right investor and liberalise the operating environment.

We expect a transparent guided sale from this government, given Buhari’s reputation for integrity, Fayemi’s own track record and the principled stance of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who is the statutory chairman of the National Council on Privatisation that has oversight over the discredited BPE.

Should this government get it wrong again, it could sound the death knell of our steel and mining dream.

(Punch Newspaper Editorial, 15th August, 2016) http://www.minesandsteel.gov.ng/2016/08/15/ajaokuta-last-chance-targeted-sale/
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by Probz(m): 9:18pm On Jun 27, 2017
laudate:
This is where the Kogi senators, state govt and entire house of reps should focus on, and make their voices heard. Instead, they will be fighting petty squabbles and making a mockery of the entire region. Dr. Kayode Fayemi or whichever Minister is in charge of this sector, needs to step up his game, and make the revival of Ajaokuta, a top priority. sad

Seek investors and technical expertise from different companies around the world to join hands and revive this project. Technology in the steel sector has changed over the years, so efforts to get new investors with the appropriate technology in place, should be made. If the govt is wary of dealing solely with the Russians, then they can ask the Russians to team up with other accredited firms from different foreign countries to revive the project, with the shareholding spread out in such a way, as to give the Russians a minority stake. undecided

This thing is not rocket science. It is just that the fed govt lacks the will and determination to complete this project! angry
cool cool cool cool
Re: Revive Ajaokuta by dabeto: 3:05pm On Jun 28, 2017
If you gather just 3 Nigerian engineers the system at Ajaokuta will work. We don't need original contractor to complete the work. We can do it ourselves if we believe and Nigerians give us a trial. I have been brooding over why we need to get a loan to build our railway when we have virtually everything to build it without resorting to loan. I try to make a case about it sometime ago but my voice was drown. Railway project is the perfect avenue to revamp our steel industry. I have a lot to say but I wish to appreciate your effort for all you have done to revive Ajaokuta. Our technology development as a nation lies partly on the functionality of Ajaokuta. May God bless your effort. Maybe for this reason that came on this platform just yesterday. I will like to be engaged and to involve. Regards

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