8.4 C
New York
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Response To Media Enquiries On The House Of Representatives’ Debate On The Ajaokuta Steel Company

Published:

LATEST NEWS

- Advertisement -
Response To Media Enquiries On The House Of Representatives’ Debate On The Ajaokuta Steel Company

Press Release

Response To Media Enquiries On The House Of Representatives’ Debate On The Ajaokuta Steel Company On March 15th, 2018

The attention of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari, has been drawn to the debate by Members of the House of Representatives on the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, where the House adopted a resolution to stop the planned concessioning of the steel company.

Whilst the Ministers are convinced the Honourabe members mean well as patriots concerned about an important national asset, it is also a fact that they have grossly misunderstood the Ministers and other stakeholders working with the Ministry on this exercise.

READ ALSO  Re: Bauchi Spent Over N5 Billion On Foodstuffs, Refreshments In 2023, More Than The Combined Budget For Provision Of Water Facilities, Health Centres

In view of this and the need to set the record straight for the sake of the general public and the investing community, it is important to state as follows:

  • The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has not contracted any transactional adviser for the concessioning of Ajaokuta Steel Company, as wrongly asserted by the House.
  • The process for the appointment of a Transactional Adviser is on, but cannot be completed until it gets the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
  • The Ministry has not spent a dime from the N2,096,500.00 (Two billion, ninety six million, five hundred thousand naira ) appropriated by the House for the concessioning of Ajaokuta Steel Company (in the 2017 Appropriation Law).
  • The mediation process that led to the amicable settlement of the legal encumbrances on Ajaokuta Steel Complex has not ended. There are still a few more steps to be taken as outlined in the terms of (out of court) settlement. And the Ministry is following up on this.
  • It is also important to state that no one has been hired.
  • We find it rather worrisome that the House of Representatives could devote an entire day to an issue that has not even arisen.
  • The Ministry remains committed to making Ajaokuta Steel Plant function effectively, convinced that steel remains the most important engineering material and backbone of industrialisation in any economy.
READ ALSO  Unfreezing Of Benue State Government Accounts And The Action On Minimum Wage

 

Signed:

Olayinka Oyebode                                                                                                              Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister                                                                                            Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

Hey there! Exciting news - we've deactivated our website's comment provider to focus on more interactive channels! Join the conversation on our stories through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages, and let's chat, share, and connect in the best way possible!

Join our social media

For even more exclusive content!

spot_imgspot_imgspot_img

Of The Week
CARTOON

TOP STORIES

- Advertisement -

Of The Week
CARTOON

247Ureports Protects its' news articles from plagiarism as an important part of maintaining the integrity of our website.