THE Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, on Thursday, stated that it has not contracted any transactional adviser for the concessioning of Ajaokuta Steel Company, as wrongly asserted by members of the House of Representatives during their debate.
According to the ministry, the process for the appointment of a Transactional Adviser is on, but cannot be completed until it gets the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
In a statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja said: “the ministry has not spent a dime from the N2,096,500.00 appropriated by the House for the concessioning of Ajaokuta Steel Company in the 2017 Appropriation Law.”
While insisting that no one has been hired, the ministry said it found it rather worrisome that the House of Representatives could devote an entire day to an issue that has not even arisen.
“The attention of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari, has been drawn to the debate by Members of the House of Representatives on the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, where the House adopted a resolution to stop the planned concessioning of the steel company.
“Whilst the ministers are convinced the Honourable members mean well as patriots concerned about an important national asset, it is also a fact that they have grossly misunderstood the ministers and other stakeholders working with the ministry on this exercise.
“The mediation process that led to the amicable settlement of the legal encumbrances on Ajaokuta Steel Complex has not ended. There are still a few more steps to be taken as outlined in the terms of (out of court) settlement. And the Ministry is following up on this.
“The Ministry remains committed to making Ajaokuta Steel Plant function effectively, convinced that steel remains the most important engineering material and backbone of industrialisation in any economy.” The statement added.