Ajaokuta steel company, a national shame ―Dogara

THE Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Monday, said the present state of the Ajaokuta Steel Company is a national shame to entire Nigeria.

He said the non-completion of the multi-billion dollars project should be a development that should give the people sleepless nights, saying concerted efforts should be made to redeem the company.

Dogara, who visited the steel company located in Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi state as part of the oversight function of the house, lamented that several years after the construction of the company, it was still in its present condition.

According to him, the shame associated with the non-completion and failure to inaugurate the plant was nothing but a national embarrassment and shame which required urgent steps to bring the steel company back to life.

He said, “Any patriotic Nigerian that visits this plant cannot but shed tears, any foreigner who visits this plant cannot but agree that we are from shit hole country.”

Speaking on efforts that would be required to make the plant work, the Speaker said the house would not support any arrangement that would involve concession of the plant, saying such move would amount to releasing the nation’s assets to assets stripers.

“Anyone who tries to reintroduced concessions as a way forward will definitely have a problem with us at the house”, Dogara maintained.

He, however, expressed his belief that the plant would be brought back to life for the benefit of all Nigerians, assuring that the house would do its part in order to revive the company.

“We are aware of local and international conspiracy against the plant, but we ate determined to get the money from every angle to compete adding that money is available to fund the completion”, he said.

Earlier, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, advocated the deployment of recovered looted funds to complete the plant and make it functional.

He said such action was necessary for a view of the enormous economic benefits in terms of job provision for the teeming youths.