The House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development plans to review all audit reports concerning the Ajaokuta Steel Company to ensure a thorough legislative process for its revival.
According to The PUNCH, Committee Chairwoman, Zainab Gimba, highlighted the necessity of evaluating past assessments, including those from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, to guide the revitalisation efforts.
During a visit to the Ministry of Steel Development on Thursday, Gimba stated, “I would like you also make the clarification that the House, under its legislative process, is focusing on taking a critical look at all audit reports on Ajaokuta Steel Company.
“We are accessing all past reports, especially those carried out under former President Obasanjo and by the Nigeria Society of Engineers. We are discussing with them to see what is there, to know where we are, and to see what is going to happen.
“The House cannot go out of the process to see Ajaokuta revived. We are discussing with the ministry to see what they are doing towards reviving Ajaokuta and we are here to see that legislative processes have been followed and adhered to.”
Gimba also commented, “We have heard their challenges. We know that one of the major focuses of this government is to develop the steel sector.
“The steel sector is expected to take over from the only sector given the fact that oil is getting exhausted. You know the efforts of the President in his renewed hope agenda is to develop a steel sector that is viable and will bring a lot of fortune to Nigerians. We are particularly optimistic about efforts to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company and the entire steel sector.”
Steel Development Minister, Mohammed Audu, defended the ministry against claims of violating procurement procedures by allowing a Russian firm to audit the complex before official processes were completed.
He clarified that the complex remains open to assessments by any interested party at no cost to the government.
Audu explained, “People go to Ajaokuta to do a rapid assessment from time to time. Ajaokuta is a public asset. Some people want to pitch for their ability to provide financing for the government and they will go and do their rapid assessment at their own cost to assess the status of the place.
“That is entirely different from what we are doing with the procurement process.
“The procurement process is where the government will carry out its own technical and financial audit to access the entire plant and the entire supply chain to be able to decide and have its report so that when someone comes from outside and says X, you have your report that says Y.”
He praised the House Committee’s dedication to revitalizing the steel sector, noting, “To turn around a steel sector that has been comatose for over four decades is not a child’s play. The House Committee has shown dedication and a lot of desire to work with the Ministry and the President to develop the sector.”
The Ajaokuta Steel Complex, located in Kogi State, is one of Africa’s largest steel production facilities. Conceived to enhance Nigeria’s industrial capacity and reduce dependence on imported steel, it was designed to support national infrastructure development.
Although construction began in the late 1970s with the aim of establishing a self-sustaining steel industry, the complex has encountered numerous setbacks, including delays, technical problems, and financial issues that have prevented it from reaching full operational capacity.
The Ajaokuta Steel Complex remains central to discussions on Nigeria’s industrialization and economic development strategies.
