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Senate probes Ajaokuta Steel company over $496m settlement
The Senate on Tuesday resolved to carry out a thorough investigation on the affairs of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the National Ore Mining Company in Kogi State from 2008 to date.
It planned to unravel the mystery behind the payment of $496m allegedly made to Pramod Mittal, Chairman, Global Infrastructure Holdings Ltd by the Federal Government in September 2022 as a settlement over said contractual disputes.
It also resolved to investigate the circumstances that led to the re-concession of NIOMCO even when the initial Concession Agreement was validly terminated by the Yar’adua Administration with a positive review by the International Chamber of Commerce, London.
Senate’s resolutions to this effect were sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan ( PDP Kogi Central) and exhaustively debated by many of the Senators.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the National Iron Ore Mining Company located in Kogi State were established sometime in the late 70s by the Federal Government with the potential to put Nigeria on the path of technological and industrial advancement and establish the country as one of the leading exporters of steel products in the world.
She lamented that decades after their establishment, the Ajaokuta steel mill and NIOMCO have remained inoperative and unable to produce steel despite seeming efforts by several administrations due to a lack of earnest political will and bureaucratic corruption.
According to her, Nigeria currently expends about $3.3bn annually on steel imports and is quite saddened that a nation blessed with abundant natural ore resources yet plagued by moribund Ajaokuta and Delta steel that have become conduits pipes for diversion of public funds at the expense of Nigerian tax payers.
She added that there exists an abnormal management structure at the Ajaokuta Steel Complex whereby a Sole Administrator has unilaterally decided upon the steel mill’s corporate affairs for the past 12 years.
She said, “This has further worsened the inefficiency of the moribund company with the recently queried 33bn naira electricity debt incurred by Presidential villa.”
The Senate after debate on the motion, consequently set up a committee to be chaired by Senator Adeniyi Ayodele Adegbonmire ( SAN) with senators Natasha Akpoti (Kogi Central), Onawo Mohamed (Nasarawa South) Joel Onowakpa (Delta), Onyesoh Allwell Heacho (Rivers East) Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North), Sen Patrick Chukwuba Ndubueze (Imo North), Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East) and Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) as members.
While the committee is to report back to the Senate in two weeks, they are also to interface with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other critical stakeholders in the steel sector especially those with interest in Ajaokuta Steel Manufacturing Plant and (all mining company NIOMCO to obtain relevant information and submit a comprehensive report to the Senate regarding the affairs of the two plants between 2018 to date.
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Wike promises to deliver ongoing road projects in December as Christmas gift to residents(Photos)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured residents of Abuja that ongoing road projects will be completed and delivered in December as special Christmas gifts from President Bola Tinubu.
Wike gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday, after he inspected the ongoing construction of Arterial Road NI, from Wuye to Ring Road II, Tungan Madaki to Zuba road and Zaudna-Kaba-Kagini to Kubwa Expressway.
Speaking to journalists after assessing the pace and quality of work, the minister expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far and commended the contractors for their dedication to meeting the completion timelines.
“I’m very impressed with the jobs so far, and I’m also impressed with the commitment of the contractors.
“We have promised the residents that this will be their Christmas gift by Mr President as part of their Christmas gift so that they’ll go back home and enjoy their Christmas celebration.
“You can imagine the happiness of those who stay here. You know that with these roads the economy of the affected communities will change,” he said.
Highlighting the impact of the road infrastructure on the beneficiary communities, Wike noted that completing the roads would alleviate transport difficulties and revitalise local economic activities ahead of the festive season.
The minister particularly emphasised the transformation taking place in suburban and rural areas, describing community satisfaction as the primary goal of public service.
“When you see a rural area like this, it makes us very happy when the people are happy and of course, that’s the essence of good governance,” Wike added.
Addressing initial concerns regarding weather-induced delays, Wike acknowledged that seasonal rainfall had temporarily slowed earthworks.
He, however, expressed confidence that the contractors would accelerate operations as the rainy season winds down.
“You know, I was having doubts, but the contractors are fully committed. If not for the rains, I know they would have gone far.
“I believe that from the first week of October, the rains will not be much again, and you will see how they will continue with earthworks,” he said.
The minister assured residents that the administration remains steadfast in delivering on its commitments.
Addressing the excited residents, Wike urged them to vote Tinubu for president and Philip Aduda to represent FCT in the Senate.
He told residents of Tungan Shanu village, on the Tungan Madaki to Zuba road corridor not to forget Tinubu and Aduda during the 2027 elections.
“We will push the contractor to deliver the road by December so that you’ll be happy. That is what the President is doing for you.
“The president said this road will be a Christmas gift for all of you. So, when the election comes too, don’t forget to vote for Tinubu and Aduda,” he said.
Speaking to the cheering residents of Kaba, on the Kagini to Kubwa Expressway road corridor, the minister said: “I’m happy that you people are happy that this road will be completed in December.
“I came here with the man that will represent you well in the Senate and that is Sen. Philip Aduda. He’s the one that will connect you directly with Tinubu.
“So, I hope all of you will vote for Tinubu and Aduda.”
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2027: Rainbow Coalition Signals Fresh Political Realignment in Nigeria — Sokoto PDP Guber Candidate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Abubakar Sokoto, has described the emerging Rainbow Coalition as another chapter in Nigeria’s long history of political alliances and realignments.
Sokoto, in a statement issued in Sokoto on Tuesday, said political coalitions had remained a recurring feature of Nigeria’s electoral history, with parties and political groups often coming together to pursue shared political objectives.
According to him, while the names, personalities, circumstances and goals behind such alliances may change, political realignment remains an established part of the country’s democratic process.
He cited the 1999 AD-APP joint presidential ticket of Olu Falae and Umaru Shinkafi as one of the notable examples of political cooperation in Nigeria.
He also recalled the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties ahead of the 2015 general elections, as well as the merger involving the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which eventually led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The greatest lesson from these experiences is that political coalitions are about people as much as they are about parties,” he said.
On the latest political realignment, Sokoto noted that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had described the Rainbow Coalition as a multi-party platform mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
He added that Wike had also maintained that the coalition was not an APC structure.
Sokoto said concerns reportedly expressed by some APC governors over the emerging coalition should be viewed within the broader context of Nigeria’s history of political alliances and realignments.
He urged APC governors and other party leaders to adopt what he described as a pragmatic approach to the developing political configuration ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PDP candidate also called on Nigerians to support efforts aimed at ensuring that the 2027 general elections are free, fair and credible.
News
2027: Rainbow Coalition Signals Fresh Political Realignment in Nigeria — Sokoto PDP Guber Candidate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Abubakar Sokoto, has described the emerging Rainbow Coalition as another chapter in Nigeria’s long history of political alliances and realignments.
Sokoto, in a statement issued in Sokoto on Tuesday, said political coalitions had remained a recurring feature of Nigeria’s electoral history, with parties and political groups often coming together to pursue shared political objectives.
According to him, while the names, personalities, circumstances and goals behind such alliances may change, political realignment remains an established part of the country’s democratic process.
He cited the 1999 AD-APP joint presidential ticket of Olu Falae and Umaru Shinkafi as one of the notable examples of political cooperation in Nigeria.
He also recalled the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties ahead of the 2015 general elections, as well as the merger involving the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which eventually led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The greatest lesson from these experiences is that political coalitions are about people as much as they are about parties,” he said.
On the latest political realignment, Sokoto noted that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had described the Rainbow Coalition as a multi-party platform mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
He added that Wike had also maintained that the coalition was not an APC structure.
Sokoto said concerns reportedly expressed by some APC governors over the emerging coalition should be viewed within the broader context of Nigeria’s history of political alliances and realignments.
He urged APC governors and other party leaders to adopt what he described as a pragmatic approach to the developing political configuration ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PDP candidate also called on Nigerians to support efforts aimed at ensuring that the 2027 general elections are free, fair and credible.
Wike promises to deliver ongoing road projects in December as Christmas gift to residents(Photos)
2027: Rainbow Coalition Signals Fresh Political Realignment in Nigeria — Sokoto PDP Guber Candidate
2027: Rainbow Coalition Signals Fresh Political Realignment in Nigeria — Sokoto PDP Guber Candidate
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