No Going Back On Concession Of Ajaokuta Plant, Reps Stance ‘Unwarranted’ – Minister

Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, says the Federal Government would not spend any money to complete the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the minister said the current administration will not repeat the mistake of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration on the steel plant.

He said since 1979, the Nigerian government have spent over $8bn into the project with nothing to show for it.

Fayemi said the government will go ahead with plans to concession the steel plant, adding that no fewer than 14 organisations from different countries had since 2016 indicated interest.

Recall that the House of representatives said last week that they would oppose the concession of the company, saying they preferred that the government invest and complete the project.

But the minister insisted that there is no going back on the concession.

According to him, the National Assembly approved the sum of N2 billion in the 2017 Budget for the concession of Ajaokuta plant.

“So, I find it surprising when I hear what Dogara said that concession is no longer allowed. All that we have done is to commence the process of implementing what they passed in the law,” he said.

“We have agreed Nigeria will not spend one dollar on the so-called completion. We have spent close to $8 billion since 1979 when this started.

“We will only give the steel plant to people who participate in an open bid that is transparent and independently verifiable. And this will only happen after the technical audit that is ongoing.”

The House had last week passed a vote of no confidence in Fayemi and the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Abubakar Bwari, following their failure to appear before it for sectoral debate on the steel plant.

Reacting to the vote of no confidence, the minister said: “We have honoured all their invitations except the sectoral debate and we gave them reasons why we could not come.

“We told the house of representatives that we take serious exception on allegations bothering backed up by evidence. It is just an unwarranted attack by the leadership of the house of representatives on the ministry.”