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)
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