The minister of information and culture , Lai Mohammed has lashed at the People’s Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar over his comment on the Ajaokuta steel.
The minister who was speaking at the presentation of the 19th edition of the scorecard session, Thursday 26th January, said Atiku made a comment about two weeks ago, during his campaign stop in Kogi State where the he said if voted into office, his government will resolve the problems facing the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
Mohammed said the statement was deceitful Borne out of desperation for power.
“Ajaokuta was concessioned to Global Steel Industry in 2004 by the regime o ften President Olusegun Obasanjo. Who was in charge of that Administration’s privatization programme? Alhaji Atiku Abubakar”
He further stated that the concession of the Ajaokuta steel turned out to be a mess and was terminated by another PDP Administration.
“Following the failed concession, the concessionaire, Global Steel Industry, took Nigeria to court, asking for $7 billion, and that case lingered for 12 years ”
The Minister asserted that it was the President Muhammadu Buhari administration who stepped in that the company finally settled for $496 million.
“Out of the amount, we made a bulk payment of $250 million and agreed to pay the balance in five instalments.
“To date, we have paid a total of $446 million out of the $496 million. We will make the last payment of $50 million next month and Ajaokuta will revert fully to us ending the shameful and failed concession by the Administration in which Alhaji Atiku Abubakar served as the VP”
Mohammed added that the administration is talking to investors who are ready to put in funds into Ajaokuta to make it work again .
He then urged the public to beware of snake oil salesmen, who engage in deceit just to swindle them.
“The solution to Ajaokuta does not lie in the hands of the same people who scuttled the development of the country’s steel industry through a questionable concession. Nigerian beware! Don’t allow yourselves to be conned twice!”
