The Federal
Government on Wednesday said it had yet to concession the Ajaokuta Steel
Company to any foreign firm, describing the insinuations in some quarters as
misleading.
The government,
which also expressed concerns over the activities of illegal miners in the
country estimated at 15 million, said there was no official engagement with
anybody on the steel company.
The Minister of
Solid Minerals and Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, represented by his Technical
Adviser, Mr. Egghead Odewale, stated this when the Executive Director of a
Non-Governmental Organisation, CSR-in-Action, Bekeme Masade, led a team of
civil society organisations on a courtesy visit to him.
He, however, said
the original concession agreement that was signed between Nigeria, Global Steel
Holding Limited and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited “has been re-modified.”
The meeting was to
engage the minister and critical stakeholders on the forthcoming conference on
Sustainability in the Extractive Industries, scheduled for next month.
Fayemi said, “The
original concession agreement that was signed between the Federal Government of
Nigeria, Global Steel Holding Limited and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited
has been re-modified. It has been modified to decouple Ajaokuta Steel Company
Limited from Nigeria Iron Ore Mining Company in Itakpe.
“What that also
portends is that Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited now has seven years of
their original concession to complete the mining operation to operate neo-coal
in Itakpe, whereas Ajaokuta has reverted to the government of Nigeria. So, it
is now being held by the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Speaking on those he
called “artisan miners and those who work under the radars,” the minister said
the illegal activities were part of the development challenges in the country.
PUNCH
Follow Solenzo Blog on
0 Comments