cooljade:
Thank you .

Yes its from me. I started the petition to draw the president's attention to Ajaokuta. As the petition ran (still runs) I commenced my research. I am actually surprised that out of 40 million active internet users in Nigeria, we only generated 500+ signatures. Like a commentator rightly asked earlier in this thread " why are our youths too quick to comment on topics irrelevant to their progress while an issue like this is walked past like it matters not".

Nigerians must realize that there are different forms of slavery. The most pathetic one is the slavery done by our own kind. Nigerians inhumanity to fellow Nigerians. I am not one to dwell too much in the past so I urge Nigerians to focus on now and the future.

As my findings led me to discover that the original builders of Ajaokuta have over the years written to past governments and got no response, why dont we invite them over to complete their works. Why did Dr. Fayemi to travel to Mexico (monday last week and returned friday) in search of investors in the solid mineral sector when an investor in his most important industry is waiting to help?

I love president Buhari and I believe he needs our support in guiding him ... even with a little proactive pressure. This message must get to the presidency. As I write, the Russian company is putting a letter of intent to the president. I intend to ensure it is delivered. I shall also make the letter available to the public. This administration promised an inclusive government. This means that we, the public must contribute in the policies and decisions as they affect us. How can a budget of 6 trillion not have 1 naira on the revival of Ajaokuta? What was all that " Ajaokuta is a priority" thing all about?

Nigerians are tired of being lied to. The press must not be used to build false hopes. We must hold the government accountable for every penny and every promise they make.

Thank you

my dear...I'm a youth myself, a graduate n no job after graduation even @33 already... its so sad, pathetic n shameful at our youths, the government n our political leaders.

December 2015, I was at Ajaokuta my self for d 1st time and i was really surprise, shock n almost wepr at the billions of naira spent and the resource wastage we have at Ajaokuta. your article gives so many reasons why Ajaokuta steel is not where it's meant to be today. ha! this country is evil, wicked, ignorant and stupid. the problem we have in this country is enemies within. just imagine the little of conspiracy against ASCL and I'm sorry to say this ASCL may remain the way it is until those people behind the progress of this country at large are totally executed (I mean killed), else this country won't see progress. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about or haven't you bordered to make a findings on these behind the progress of ASCL?

The bible says... "Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house."
Matthew:12:29

So that's the only way forward ooo because I c no reason why all past administration and present can't do sth to ASCL if the hands behind it r not strong and mighty.

May God deliver this country!

cooljade:
Thank you . I am drafting a petition already. I am more active on my facebook page Natasha Akpoti https://www.facebook.com/NatashaAkpoti/posts/10154065985231758

I would like nairalanders to pls go to my page and under the topic Nigeria's First Industrial Revolution or follow this link https://www.facebook.com/NatashaAkpoti/posts/10154070162796758 and insert what they would like the petition to contain. It shall serve as a guide to capture what's needed by consensus.

God bless .

I will suggest you post the link on senator ben Bruce's wall on facebook

Can anyone point to one achievement by past minister of solid minerals. I will be surprise if there is any. I can categorically say they are just there to warn the chair of mark register as ministers. I am angry and wish to channel my anger productively. Is high time we hold our government accountable. If Ajaokuta is the only project Dr. Fayemi can achieve, so be it. I don't want to care if he uses is company to achieve visible result. The cascading effect of this gargantuan project is enormous. we need to challenge our self to get something positive from this revelation of decadence in our country. Enough of sit don look attitude. We should be able to drive home our point somehow .Nigeria youths, how long more of this mental slavery. It is time to rise up and take charge of our destiny. Enough of all this religion jargons of pray for our leaders for God to touch their heart and make them change their corrupt ways. God has set the table before us with finesse of foods, name it Salad, vegetables, wine, but instead of us to use our hands to pick the cutleries and eat we are still disturbing God to spoon feed us. We are endowed with all the necessary things to survive as a nation. Let us stop disrobing God and do what is expected of us. I am expecting someone to come up with a rally to the office of the minister of solid minerals and demand that the report by this writer should be looked into and make him see reasons to pursue it as his only agenda. Believe me if we get it right others minerals discovery and exploration will fall in place and we can create millions of jobs. I am waiting for an invite to the rally. I wish I can convey one.

TUNDE Bakare pastor, almost ten years ago if not even over, announced and preached in his psalms on how the GALACTIC DESTINIES of Nigeria has been tied and place in the Nation's Confluence, The clergy also prescribed a 500 days fasting and prayers as the dynamite needed to blast off the shackles on the Galactic destinies. TUNDE Bakare pstr. promised to tell his clergy brothers to help the Nigeria perform the divine spiritual surgery, however, its almost or even ten years on and TUNDE Bakare is yet to say how many days is left in the fast or did his clergy brothers placed him on an Oyo settings?

ASCL and Agriculture alone is more than enough to place Nigeria in far deserved place among the league of nations, let alone couple with other resources the nation has in her disposal. ASCL will not only give Nigeria the a Industrial might but also the development might she deserve. Funny enough the government have failed to look far inward, instead the government has choose to "Ambitiously toll the part of less Ambitiousness" . "Their is every and only little to learn a master, there are far more things to learn from your mates and person of same ambition if all six sences of organs are applied correctly/accurately". My advise to President Mohammad Buhari #PMB and it government is to have more of a friend in Russia and China than it has with the developed world, The Syrian story as a case study.

Thanks to the writer for bringing this ASCL issue up again, you deserve good commends.
One just hope the Nigeria Government Eyes, Ears and every other sense are open, because, I am just so extremely frustrated and tired of sitting a home doing nothing.

I was told a post of this nature should be paid for . LIB and Sahara would post for free if it involves political or entertainment scandal . If I were a fellow minister or sitting governor, this piece would be front page.. but I am common unknown citizen, no buzz except by good minds like you.

Allwility:
Good work Natasha!! I'm waiting to hear what the FG has to say about this. I believe there's more to this than it meet the eyes. I'm also wondering why Sahara Reporters, LIB or any of our national dailies are yet to publish your article. Could it be there's another side to this story??

Just thinking aloud

Yes ooo, she was my junior in pry skool. It's good to see her involved in good things unlike some.

ceejaynwamalay:


Really PROUD of her! She is sooooo so patriotic! The kind of woman any man would be eager to have as a wife.
Ride on my dear sister! And may God bless you abundantly! Will also try to contact her on Facebook to render any assistance I can
in this urgent task of reviving Ajaokuta once and for all even if it means forming an association similar to the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG).

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

&

Long Live the Ajaokuta Steel Complex Limited!

Let the youth of this nation come together and stage a national protest demanding the return of the Russians to ajaokuta only then can the govt be made to take the decision, any other rant na lie.

Indeed, my findings were a whole lot that writing all would fill a book. In summary, and for the benefit of Nigeria, I put forward truth as it were and as glaring an effect such truth has caused us to behold today .1. That's one part of the international conspiracy. What right does the IMF and international communities have to determine a sovereign nations;s decision to exploit its God given natural resources for their own development? So white elephant projects can only succeed in the Western world. Same ideology that caused America to reign war on Iraq while the so called international communities all supported America but for Russia who intervened. Russia knew of the technical management gap and embarked upon massive training. A lot of Nigerian engineers where taking to Russia , trained in the plant operations and brought back. The Russians also set up a metallurgical training institute right there in Ajaokuta which has the capacity to train 3000 a time. It was the finest of all metallurgical centers in Africa. One good thing the Russians know how to do is transfer knowledge and insist on a nation being independent. There is a huge spare parts fabrication center also built in the complex. This was such that 80% of all equipments and parts can be reproduce without waiting to order one from Russia. People here can verify.

2. Technically backward integration? That's a problem we, Nigerians have to deal with. We cannot allow mistakes of our past leadership to haunt us forever. Bringing people together from different worlds for a common goal requires dealings in utmost good faith. I believe Buhari can accord a certain amount of stability which vital sectors can breed from.

3. Its wise we apportion blame accordingly. TPE was wrong for this project you said? Hmmm I am thinking. Who was right? America, Britain, France, Germany who Shagari approached and all turned him down but for Russia who offered to develop our steel sector? Lets look at it from this angle, TPE is the wrong option you say because its a Russian state owned company - do you know that this same company built three of India's largest steel plants Bhilai which keeps winning Inida's best steel plant award for 11 years now.? Do you know that India called upon TPE two years ago to upgrade their Rourkela steel plant (originally built by Germans) by building India's largest blast furnace . This furnace shall be completed later this year. If India can still call Russia to build and upgrade its plants, why not us? In life if you don't want to do something, you will find 100 reasons not to do so. Nigerians should wake up, make a decision and stand by it. I have made mine. TPE to Revive Ajaokuta. No to experiments.

sam79:
Writer did a good job but he deliberately omitted certain facts n arguments regarding Ajaokua steel company. 1. The imf n international communities termed ASCL a white elephant project posting dat Nigeria lack d capability to operate/own - the IMF n world bank assertion above is true of Nigeria - we have not being able to operate small none integrated systems like refineries , fertilizer company or even run a simple adminstrative goverment. ASCL is thousands times more complex n require far more logistic/infrastruture like power - transport etc to operate which re none exsistance in nigeria. 2. The negative technical n political effect of backward integration concept applied in ASCL. Technically backward integration is not a negative phenomena but in Nigeria context it a massive disaster occassioned by poor leadership , unstable millitary regimes - etc. 3. TPE is state runned company under d socialist USSR thus political calculations both - local n international affect her business decsion too. Our leaders lack d political mindset required in the international stage to manage TPE. TPE also built n completed/commissioned : South Korea steel n Libya steel company- With Nigeria political limitations n technical ineffectiveness TPE was a wrong option for this project .

Dat blast furnance Russia designed is an experimental model which was first mounted in no place but Nigeria. Pls author I would also like u to research which Professor gave critics on it. One hidden truth we d industrial chemist know about d blast furnance is dat it failed on its capacity to operate effective under instrumental design, analysis and heat retention. No govt can revive dat furnance. Instead a new model must be built one which has been operated bfor. Reference to dat d Japanese proposed bfor Russian stole into d whole white elephant project. In all it is good we start reviewing issues of industrialization. Especially uncaculated decisions

anti9JA:
[s]You asked a good question in your revealing write up, that who are those Nigerians who are standing as the backbones of these dearing Indians, the answer to your question is a simple one that rest on deep history, those Nigerians are the Fulanis of Nigeria, the emirate system which has effectively integrates its working within the Nigeria government structure. Don't be shocked by this, they (the dark-skinned anti-negro Fulanis in power since pre-1914) will continue to make sure that nothing works to the developmental benefit of non-emirate regions of Nigeria, they will never stop employing whatever is in their power to destabilize progression and hamper growth in non-Islamic areas of the Nigeria where their control is not yet 100% and these oligarchs must continue to abide by the Dan-fodian injunction of using the resources of the indigenes native to non-Islamic areas of Nigeria to sustain the emirate system of the north, from their effective usage of economic manipulations, and governmental policies they continue to maintain their stronghold in the destiny of the amalgamation called Nigeria. Their strength lies in the fact that majority of those who consider themselves Nigerians are blind to their existence and ruinous mission against true African blacks who are land owners, unlike them who are actually aliens to Africa. They control everything in Nigeria but those calling themselves Nigerians are incapable of realizing this simple fact. NB: The light-skinned Fulanis are but yet another version of the Arabs who still maintain their strong historical connection with the Indians of Asia, the Fulanis were responsible for waging thousands of jihadic campaigns of Islam in west-Africa.[/s]

Why turn this beautiful piece to your usual tribalistic thread? We don't need people like you in the New Nigeria Project.

**spits on your face**

cooljade:
I was told a post of this nature should be paid for . LIB and Sahara would post for free if it involves political or entertainment scandal . If I were a fellow minister or sitting governor, this piece would be front page.. but I am common unknown citizen, no buzz except by good minds like you.

Try and cc @omojuwa on Twitter. He's always active and has 'nuff followers than can sign the petition.

I've done my part.

The blast furnace in Ajaokuta failed? It was never used. It stands there brand new. Once a blast furnace comes on, its supposed to run for 15 to 20 years day and night without going off.

My dear industrial chemist, that blast furnace is NOT an experimental design. It is the exact one used in Russia, America, UK, Germany, France, India, Egypt etc. Blast furnace technology has been in use since 18th century . Its been tried and tested and of course modernized as technology evolved. What the Russians did was the latest and best at that time; and all it needs now is a little upgrade. The part as a whole is still in great shape. Europe yields quality especially in steel. At the time TPE was building Nigeria's the first blast furnace TPE built in Russia marked 50 years of operations. Pls read this report issued in August 2014 http://in.rbth.com/economics/2014/08/22/bhilai_steel_plant_chhattisgarhs_icon_of_indo-russian_cooperation_37741 I quote from it "Bhilai’s steel plant is India’s largest producer of rails and wide steel plates. More than 50 years after the plant was built, the warmth for Russia and Russians is still in the air". The same company built a plant, (20 years before they built Ajaokuta's) for the Indians and they have maintained and appreciated the TPE Russia's effort. Alas, Nigerian's criticize. Wake up!!!

I urge you to read and travel the globe to see for yourself. Doubtful ignorant thoughts like this is exactly why Nigeria is where she is today. Nigerians doubt made it easier for conspiracies to succeed. China believed so much in itself , even when the whole world termed them counterfeit. Now world powers produce in and patronize China.

egbojay:
Dat blast furnance Russia designed is an experimental model which was first mounted in no place but Nigeria. Pls author I would also like u to research which Professor gave critics on it. One hidden truth we d industrial chemist know about d blast furnance is dat it failed on its capacity to operate effective under instrumental design, analysis and heat retention. No govt can revive dat furnance. Instead a new model must be built one which has been operated bfor. Reference to dat d Japanese proposed bfor Russian stole into d whole white elephant project. In all it is good we start reviewing issues of industrialization. Especially uncaculated decisions

Thank you but can you pls help post in his twitter handle? I and Nigerians would appreciate. God bless

Brimmie:


Try and cc @omojuwa on Twitter. He's always active and has 'nuff followers than can sign the petition.

I've done my part.

Im so happy to come across this info as I always wondered why Ajaokuta is yet to come to limelight. Trust me, if the Russian company delivers that project completely, Nigeria would regain the "Giant of Africa" proof. Russia is the best when it comes to steel. If u know Volga or Lada cars, especially Juguli

Kruto!!!

@Cooljade - IMF and world bank etc declaring ASCL a white elephant project doesn't empower them to scrap ASCL as they suggested - neither does it imply that Nigeria leadership most scrap the structures - this assertion ought to serve as guide to Sane countries in getting her steel policies right- certainly not Nigeria. Nigeria n Nigerians would rather blame IMF for their mistakes n short comings rather seeking to grow/develop this capacities- .They just stated the obvious reason while such a project will remain a pipe dream. Posterity has proved IMF etc right so far. Nigeria leadership lacks d moral n mental capacity to provide this infrastructure, logistics and complete this company - Bedrock of industrialization .......
Nigeria lack the capacity to build, own and operate an integrated steel complex like Ajaokuta---- Refineries n other small companies re not even operational....

Backward Integration is disastrous for nation like Nigeria lacking in infrastructure, technology n political leadership/direction. Frequent coup de tals n subsquent change of policies further compounded the negative effect of backward integration..Though the project has gone beyond d shackles of backward integration it still a contributing factors while Ajaokuta lay Fallow for so many years....

TPE a state controlled company re not just into business but politics too. Nigeria foreign policies/politics sucks ----- International politics:: It is a terrain our leadership know nothing abt . This makes it difficult taking technical/political decision as regard TPE n ASCL.... Nigeria leadership over d years has aligned herself towards the West rather than the Eastern Power which Russia belong. There was little technology transfer between TPE and Nigerian working with them. There some many sections of ASCL her staff doesnt know how they operate apart from Names written on paper. Indian has been a political neutral country in the international stage.

ASCL was awarded to TPE USSR as compensation for her support for d Nigeria state during the Biafra War/conflict....... lots of Soviet Pilots flew reconnaissance n bombing mission for the Nigeria state. The future of d company n Nigeria was not considered b4 the PROJECT was awarded to TPE.

Around 1979 the world n IMF where still hopeful NIgeria could get her policies right - TPE/USSR were not the only bidders back then - IMF assertion was made after Nigeria drifted into FAILED STATE STATUS..........

Nigeria/Nigerian re found of blaming everyone (Even Spirit/devil - Unseen/abstract/Mythological entities) except him/herself for failing -

I tiree oooii

cooljade:
I was told a post of this nature should be paid for . LIB and Sahara would post for free if it involves political or entertainment scandal . If I were a fellow minister or sitting governor, this piece would be front page.. but I am common unknown citizen, no buzz except by good minds like you.

I am keeping an eye on the petition's tally, increasing gradually, slowly but yes it is increasing.

The problem of Nigeria is Nigerians. Strange and sad but true.

The writer has his own view let the other companies involved talk too. There are always two sides to a coin. If you only allow aninih talk you would believe he is innocent but until you hear police and the victims talk you will be able to arrive at a fair conclusion

Op, your patriotism has paid off , the minister of solid minerals spoke on it today,so i believe your letter was acknowledged

Brimmie:


Try and cc @omojuwa on Twitter. He's always active and has 'nuff followers than can sign the petition.

I've done my part.

oga, don't mention that guy again, he works for APC, he will sabotage this article

IOAGEM:
Let the youth of this nation come together and stage a national protest demanding the return of the Russians to ajaokuta only then can the govt be made to take the decision, any other rant na lie.

National Protest you say?

ozor1:
Op, your patriotism has paid off , the minister of solid minerals spoke on it today,so i believe your letter was acknowledged

I can point you to myriads of "we will revive Ajaokuta complex" comments from 1999 till date.... that place remains as it is...
Nigerian Society of Engineers and Nigeria Metallurgical Society have presented presented plenty Ajaokuta related papers before now.
I expect some shakara from this people but there's dreams, then there's facts and we know which judgements should be made with.
Ask any current Metallurgical engineer who knows what the current metal exchange market speak and you'll know that part of the economy isn't inviting for now.
But white elephant or not, I like the fact that youths are now gradually demanding answers from their leaders and that's a good place to start.
we'll never know all that went down with Ajaokuta, but at least more people are now aware of its plight.

Anyone can as well revive talks about Nigeria's Aluminium refining plant in Akwa-ibom. it's also suffering the same fate currently, except it has once worked for a while before our "Nigerian Factor" set in, Ditto for "Olua Glass company" the only Glass company in W. Africa, a company which is now moribund but whose then directors and principal officers are rumored to majorly be millionaires in their own rights currently.

While I trust the Russians to still be able to put the structure back in place efforts should be made to get indigenous but experienced Project managers to analyze it's profitability.
I somehow think Dangote and others would've bought it up since if the margin was that encouraging.

Otherwise, we should just obey Lord keynes and focus on areas where we have real competitive advantage, economic success is first a matter of what you should do than what you'll like to do.
New Zealand has a well developed dairy system, they supply more than half of Asia's beef and dairy, solid minerals is to Australia what Oil is to us and they have well developed structures for it.
it's time we grow our own engine, with our own template and stop all this copying or at least copy and adapt to local conditions like the Chinese did.

Irrespective of what we may all think, the market always speaks, and you had better listen to it than pay for your disobedience.
We're in a financial mire presently, the current budget despite it's (resource wasting appropriations) is almost entirely to be debt financed. we need every revenue generating avenue we can and serious exportation would have saved us like it did China, India et. al but these export avenues have been cornered by our "honourable men" as their territories.
a popular "Oga at the top" runs cassava exportation and others, another set of "Ogas at the top" currently export solid minerals with tacit supports and Nigeria is left to fend for herself. If we want this country built, all we need is everyone's unreserved patriotism.

I've decided to do the best I can in my own little corner, many thanks to cooljade and others who are fighting tooth and nail for this, tributes to all the philantropists especially in the jobs/vacancies sections.
it's the least people can do to make the officials notice the discontents in Nigerians' hearts.

cooljade:
Thank you. I am meeting with the Chairman committee on Steel on Wednesday. He is quite passionate about ASCL. I spent three months researching and conducting interviews to uncover this much. Though a long piece, its only a summary. I would appreciate if MOD /Seun can keep this topic advertised so it wont go down the topic line and vanish.

The revival of Ajaokuta must be everyone's mantra henceforth. I did my part as a patriot and would love to have Seun permanently keep this topic on top or on an advert sector. I wasn't paid a kobo... Its only a labor of love. We need punch, guardian, thisday, Sahara reporters (I sent him a copy he never published), Linda ikeji to publish( I sent her a mail but she never published.. not sure I have her right email address lindaikeji@gmail.com). Nigeria is drowning and fast at that .. we need to save ourselves!!!

nice work circulating it. Lets do more.
AIT political platform program is another nice avenue or to any of d presenters lyk ehiedu aniagu.
Cheers

The Controversial Contract by Global ‪#‎Infrastructure‬ ‪#‎Nigeria‬ Limited Holding ‪#‎Nigerians‬ to Ransom.

Please Read and SHARE!!!
The Hon. Minister of Steel's stated at the National Assembly yesterday he intends to step back for a year to sort out the legal tussle between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and GSHL. An agreement clearly holding the nation to ransom by an Indian company owned by Mr. Pramod ‪#‎Mittal‬. Nigerians are not okay with allocating 1 year of this administration to determine the legalities of a contract undertaken under fraudulent conditions to the detriment of a whole country; and as such can be termed void ab initio on the face of it.
At this juncture, it is pertinent to take a glimpse of this Goliath of a contract and have the good people of Nigeria determine, alongside the good office of the FGN, AGF and Ministry of Solid Minerals, those terms and condition precedent which ties Nigeria's hands from fully taking possession and embarking on reviving the Ajaokuta and Itakpe mills to full capacity.
Important points to note for better understanding of the contract pages

read more here https://www.facebook.com/NatashaAkpoti/posts/10154079115806758

cooljade:


The Controversial Contract by Global ‪#‎Infrastructure‬ ‪#‎Nigeria‬ Limited Holding ‪#‎Nigerians‬ to Ransom.

Please Read and SHARE!!!
The Hon. Minister of Steel's stated at the National Assembly yesterday he intends to step back for a year to sort out the legal tussle between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and GSHL. An agreement clearly holding the nation to ransom by an Indian company owned by Mr. Pramod ‪#‎Mittal‬. Nigerians are not okay with allocating 1 year of this administration to determine the legalities of a contract undertaken under fraudulent conditions to the detriment of a whole country; and as such can be termed void ab initio on the face of it.
At this juncture, it is pertinent to take a glimpse of this Goliath of a contract and have the good people of Nigeria determine, alongside the good office of the FGN, AGF and Ministry of Solid Minerals, those terms and condition precedent which ties Nigeria's hands from fully taking possession and embarking on reviving the Ajaokuta and Itakpe mills to full capacity.
Important points to note for better understanding of the contract pages

read more here https://www.facebook.com/NatashaAkpoti/posts/10154079115806758

Hi cooljade good to see your response here.

I think it will be best to post this onto obiagelli's thread currently on the frontpage, about the same ajaokuta. Before they sway nigerians with rhetorics. We need actions and not empty words.

Malawian:
Oga, pleaase start from the begining of the conspiracy.

The people who did the feasibility studies for the Steel plant advised the FB to site it in the region between Awka and Onitsha in Anambra state.

You have not told us how they latter moved it to Ajaokuta in the first place. Please start from the original conspiracy, lets move from there.

Thanks a lot.

Citing it between Awka and Onitsha is not technically the best decision bro. Ajaokuta is the best place based on nearness to all the production inputs for the process and prioritizing them.

To make steel you need
1. Iron Ore -top input( largest deposits are in Itakpe, Kogi- the Iron ore beneficiation plant is sited there),

2. limestone for the fluxing (mfamozing, Nkalagu etc deposits can ship it in), & dolomite fir fluxing

3.coal for makng coke (Enugu has largest deposits but has some sulphur and therefore would need blending with foreign sourced coal),

4. Tons of water: River Niger and Benue on the Kogi side has larger volumes based on the confluence in lokoja.

5. Rocks, sand etc for civil works ( not steel process) . Ajaokuta has more than enough rocks to blast through for civil works for free.

Onitsha/Awka would have been fine due to nearness to coal but nearness to iron ore, larger land mass, water, construction materials would have disqualified the area.

Durinsday:


Citing it between Awka and Onitsha is not technically the best decision bro. Ajaokuta is the best place based on nearness to all the production inputs for the process and prioritizing them.

To make steel you need
1. Iron Ore -top input( largest deposits are in Itakpe, Kogi- the Iron ore beneficiation plant is sited there),

2. limestone for the fluxing (mfamozing, Nkalagu etc deposits can ship it in), & dolomite fir fluxing

3.coal for makng coke (Enugu has largest deposits but has some sulphur and therefore would need blending with foreign sourced coal),

4. Tons of water: River Niger and Benue on the Kogi side has larger volumes based on the confluence in lokoja.

5. Rocks, sand etc for civil works ( not steel process) . Ajaokuta has more than enough rocks to blast through for civil works for free.

Onitsha/Awka would have been fine due to nearness to coal but nearness to iron ore, larger land mass, water, construction materials would have disqualified the area.

you are more learned than those that did the feasibility study abi?
stop being emotional for once.

2. limestone for the fluxing (mfamozing, Nkalagu etc deposits can ship it in),

iron ore exists all over the nation including the region between awka and onitsha. if you can ship the bolded into kogi, you can as well ship the iron ore from itakpe into awka/onitsha.

grandstar:
At the time Ajaokuta was built, it was reported to have the productivity of a 1920's plant. Its a very uncompetitive plant.

Now in world awash with stupendously cheap steel from China where they set up steel mills like we set up pure water factories, it will be an act of economic suicide to venture into steel production.

Any steel produced here will be way above the world market price leaving the local end users at a competitive disadvantage.

Its a blessing in disguise that the mill is dead. They should dynamite the place, and ring it for miles with landmines.

I beg to differ on your report of productivity of 1920! Please who wrote that report?

Which part of the steel plant has the productivity of 1920? Is it the 1.

Blast furnace (BF) which is almost completed and never produced 1 gram of Pig Iron? The waste slag from this plant would be used for filling roads and making cement, Dangote's Obajana would just be buying waste slag from Ajaokuta steel as raw material.

2. Or the steel making shop (SMS) capacity ~ 1.2Million Tons of liquid steel /year, which is also almost completed and has not produced 1gram is liquid steel? steel slag here would supply cement and construction firms with raw input.

These 2 primary units are at about 90% completion or more, but was left by the Russians due to our government's laxity.

Or is it the coking plant ( that makes coke as primary product and coal gas, coal tar, ammoniacal liquor, bitumen as by-products),

Or lime stone plant ( that makes lime, Carbon dioxide )

Or sintering plant,

Or Air Separation plant ( that makes major industrial gases Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, Argon etc),

Or Rubberizing plant that makes all the conveyor belts, and everything rubber there),

Or Foundries that would make all steel cast parts for the plant whole nation like engine blocks, valves etc

Or is it now the Rolling Mills that was the functioning part buying billets from abroad because the SMS was not yet casting liquid steel? The rolling mills were making wire rods& binding wires 5.5mm to 12mm diameter(wire rod mill~ 200,000 Tons/yr), Light Section Mills( LSM) ~ 400,000Tons/yr producing reinforced iron rods up to 25mm, angle bars, channels, I-beams, profiles etc all light gauge., Medium Section and Structural Mills (MSSM) ~ 400,000 tons/year capacity producing heavy gauge and standard gauge rail lines ( for all our railway dreams), heavy gauge I-beams, channels, H-Beams, equal and unequal angle bars, flat bars etc (for offshore rig construction, sky scrappers), the Billet Mill that makes billets from blooms for export as industrial secondary input.

Only the LSM and WRM were working by buying billets from Ukraine and rolling out tons of reinforcement rods between 2004- around 2008. They were making tons of money under the Indians too, who were also running their agenda.

These mills were producing well, so WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN BY PRODUCING LIKE 1920s?

Besides steel technology worldwide is still using 1900s basic technology. The best you can do is automation to innovate, but the steel beneficiation technology is same worldwide. Go and study it.

Do we even mention the thermal power plant/ turbo blower station ( TPP/TBS); steam plant delivering over 200MW to the national grid? In Ajaokuta people cooked with electric stoves because the power plant was supplying electricity for the plant 24/7. All that power generated by waste heat (dry steam)from just 2 rolling mills' pre-heating furnaces. If the blast furnace and steel making shop and other plants were working, they would generate enough steam to generate over 1500MW; steam by the way used to cool the plant walls!

About cost of steel in Europe versus Ajaokuta, can you compare where we have all our raw materials sitting in one country plus natural gas to improve the efficiencies of processes versus in europe that has already been hyper mined and need to bring in raw materials from abroad? Tata steel ( formerly British steel and corus) has almost closed out, only section working is railway plant because britain needs rail for maintaining her 20,000 miles of railtrack. Its expensive to make steel there because natural gas and electricity is not cheap there plus iron ore, dolomite, lime, coal is not cheap there too.

LET US GET AJAOKUTA BACK ON TRACK!

Malawian:

you are more learned than those that did the feasibility study abi?
stop being emotional for once.



iron ore exists all over the nation including the region between awka and onitsha. if you can ship the bolded into kogi, you can as well ship the iron ore from itakpe into awka/onitsha.

I speak as one who is very knowledgeable in Metallurgical Plant Design, who had worked in Ajaokuta Steel Company, and in other steel plants globally and especially one who knows about the feasibility study for the plant and it operations.

Awka/Onitsha is a poor choice if you consider the stoichometric equation of Iron and steel making and its mass and energy balances.

As an elementary example, Consider that
1. The density of Iron Ore (hematite) is over 5 times that of coal in Enugu, and 6 times more than lime in Mfamozing, and twice that of dolomite.

2. Iron is the main objective we want to extract, others are ancilliary reactants

3. The g/mol ratio of Iron in the Red-ox reactions for making Iron and steel is very high.

4. Itakpe has the highest deposits of Iron Ore in Nigeria

These are just the few basic technical justifications.

I do not know where you got your feasibility info from but I say your deposition is incorrect based on the few above points and also the fact that I studied the feasibility report of ajaokuta steel.

Its not emotion, its fact!

mickey45:


tis not so much the Esau-ss per se....
I will only blame them for their short-sightedness and narrow-mindedness, that project was perfectly designed but failed from the word go.....
Why? Location! Location!! Location!!!
Same reason GEJ ordered LADOL and Samsung Heavy Industries to move project base down to Bayelsa.


The only thing in Itakpe is the ore itself.
A single rail moving ores down to the Furnace is a lot less dollar-draining than who-knows-how-many rail cans and ship containers moving other daily consumables (Coal, Limestone and Dolomite, and even Gas) from the ports and other centres up north.
Yar Adua (wanting to start from the logistics issues) awarded the contract to dredge The Niger's dredging while Deziani was trying to push the Nigerian Gas master-plan which had that very location as a priority. We all know what became of both projects.

While the blast furnace and supporting infrastructure hadn't been completed, the then government wanted to boast with the product ("full of personal vanity, with little sense of veracity"-Lugard) jumped (of course from bad advisers, IMF and co.) the stages and initiated sister mills in the three geopolitical zones (Osogbo, Delta and Kaduna).
The mills were on the design meant to receive feed-stock from the Blast Furnace.
On completing the mills, it was suggested (more like lobbied) that billets be imported to feed them whilst the blast furnace is on construction (Dangote and friends made a kill from here).
How do you then convince a stark illiterate (as the most of the leaders then were) of the need for a foundation, when he can already see a beautiful house standing? if not an illiterate (even if he can read and write), who ever agrees to pay for the building of a house, hoping to dig foundations later?
Had the blast furnace even been up, blooms and slabs will have have to be re-railed to the country's nerve-centers (Kaduna, Delta and Ibadan), increasing the OPEX.

Then came devaluation in the nation's currency and billet importation was no longer sustainable as the finished costs became almost at par with imported rods and steel sections/profiles.
So the there was no longer motivation and money to build the furnace any longer and when economics no longer favoured it, the mills also died their economically-natural deaths.

When the Indians came, Nigeria wasn't giving them any dime to invest with (as is the case with most of the Nation's JVs), getting a mill that size up will take a long time and money, so it'll take considerable time for them to reach profitability.
Whereas they have a new Technology (they're actually one of the bests at it) with which they could reduce the ores (albeit in fewer quantities) directly into almost pure Iron which can then be used for high quality steels without the expensive and almighty BF.

Moreover, Coal, Gas and thus energy are a lot closer to Delta steel than to Itakpe (the nearby seaport has served both for materials import and product outflow), hence their stripping Itakpe to develop and expand business in Delta steel instead of waiting for the govt. to dredge the Niger, complete the gas pipelines, and help complete the blast furnace which will almost never happen (ask the oil companies).
Then the next head of states may cancel the agreement anytime, despite their invested capital.
the shorter the time to profitability is, the better for the business.
I do not aim to rationalise their actions but to further point attention towards the very roots of the tree whose fruits we're all sad about.
BPE sold oshogbo steel mill (or rather what was left of it) to Dangote at a pittance some years ago and while the populace were salivating in the wait for new jobs, I hear he now parks his cement trailers there en-route to the north.

so blame your "leaders for always putting the cat before the horse) things wouldn't have been this bad if that man (Shagari/Gowon I think) hadn't commanded that the plant (against all conventional plant design wisdom) be sited in Kogi despite all explanations by experts in the project to the contrary. Hence my saying the project failed from its onset.

As for the "conpiracists", they knew what they were doing when they handed the nation over to a people who were the least enlightened at the time.
The same mentality birthed GMB's Kaduna Refinery and it same nepotism keeps holding the nation down ever since (e.g the latest PRESSID brouhaha).

Not quite sure what you mean by the indians having better technology that would make the iron ore purer thereby by-passing the BF!

They can improve the beneficiation process to get a few more percentages of iron ore value from the ore but they would pass it through the blast furnace there unless they want to build an electric arc furnace ( which uses steel scrap and Direct Reduced Iron) as feed - technology of delta steel. They would also need to build DRI plant too.

If not the froth flotation process from itakpe could only be improved to send to ajaokuta.

Lets hope they are not being deceitful.