The Senate ad-hoc committee investigating the operations of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, has vowed to address the longstanding issues that have kept the Ajaokuta steel plant dormant. The committee, chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, made this pledge during a meeting with the company’s management and workers on Wednesday.
Speaking at the meeting, Adegbonmire emphasized the committee’s commitment to resolving the decades-long challenges facing the steel plant. “It is time to break the jinx surrounding Ajaokuta Steel Company. Our visit is to understand the situation and gather first-hand information on why the plant remains non-operational. We are determined to make it operational,” he stated.
The acting Chief Executive of the company, Kanwai Joseph, expressed appreciation for the committee’s intervention, assuring that the company would fully cooperate with the investigation. He said, “We are committed to managing this national asset with transparency and accountability. Though the plant has not produced steel, we have maintained its integrity and are ready to provide answers on its past and present state.”
The Ajaokuta Steel Complex, established in 1979, was envisioned to drive Nigeria’s industrialization by supporting upstream and downstream economic activities. However, despite this ambition, the plant has not produced any steel since its inception, with workers receiving N38.9 billion in salaries over the last decade.
In September 2024, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, signed an agreement with the plant’s original builders, Messrs Tyazhpromexport, for the rehabilitation and operation of Ajaokuta Steel and the National Iron Ore Mining Company. The committee’s investigation is expected to bring fresh momentum to this effort.
