Kogi Heritage Protection Advocacy, a non-governmental organization, has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC to investigate the Ministry of Mines and Steel’s hasty plans to concession the Ajaokuta Steel company and Itakpe Iron Ore in Kogi state.
The organization expressed alarm about the ministry’s hasty plans to concession the two enterprises at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, adding that something is suspicious.
According to the group’s spokesperson, Edward Jatto, who stated this yesterday in Okene, Kogi state, those who want to concession the enterprises without due process are on the edge of selling them to their cronies.
The group, which stated that it was not opposed to concessions, urged that due procedure be followed and that the process be halted immediately for the sake of current and future generations.
The group also requested the National Assembly’s leadership and concerned Civil Society Organizations to intervene in the matter.
“On April 21, 2023, Nigerians awoke to find the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development placing international and local advertisements on the Concessioning of Ajaokuta Steel Company and Itakpe Iron Ore Company.”
“The advertisement specified a 20-day deadline for local and international interested companies to respond with detailed offers (rather than just expressions of interest).
“With dismay, we note that the Federal Government has begun the concession process for the two companies with an advertisement in some national dailies. “We hereby condemn the Federal Government’s concession plan for Ajaokuta Steel Company and Itakpe Iron Ore Company, which will not reflect genuine and transparent participation of all interest groups for equity, fairness, and justice to Nigerians.
“It is very unrealistic for the 20-day threshold given for response to the advertisements and grossly inadequate for any serious pre-bidding preparations.” “It is clearly at odds with and in violation of the ICRC, which specifies six weeks for tender advertisement and responses.”
“In other words, the 20-day response cannot realistically bid for the steel plant, nor will their bids reflect the realities of a massive steel complex like the Ajaokuta Steel Company and Itakpe Iron and Steel Company in any meaningful way.”
“The Federal Government’s move, represented by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, is cause for national concern, and we are concerned because of the potential negative impact on the nation’s economy and the well-being of the host communities, as it will subject the people to untold hardship. “We are particularly concerned because the concessioning of national assets such as National Iron Ore Company Limited, Itakpe and Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited has not been subjected to thorough legislative processes and contributions from major stakeholders such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, and even the host communities, among others.
The organization said it was also concerned and suspicious that the current federal government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, is rushing the concessioning process as it prepares to hand over leadership to a newly democratically elected government led by President-Elect Bola Tinubu in a few weeks.
Credit: VANGUARD REPORT.
