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Relating Stories

• Chevron, Shell in bribery scam
• Chevron in oil spillage
• Ajaokuta stinks
• FG to improve communication capacity
• NBC Benin in full operation
• Tantalizers Ramadan Special Offer
• Market still gasping
• Market Review

Ajaokuta stinks

•Death toll rises among pensioners •Workers owed seven months salary

From IBRAHIM OBANSA; Lokoja

THIRTY years after, the story of Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill still remains sordid. The same problems- lack of focus on the part of successive governments, mismanagement, corruption and external forces like the World Bank, and other super powers who want to make Nigeria a perpetual dumping ground for their steel products- have continued to trail the investment.

The Secretary General of African Iron and Steel Association (AISA) Dr. Sanusi Muhammed recently informed National Daily that the various suggestions of World Bank and their commission agents like the HATCH ASSOCIATES are invitations to ensure that the Ajaokuta Steel project remain at project stage perpetually. Speaking further, Dr. Sanusi said the steel industry at its present stage of development is strategic to Nigerians industrialization plans and as such huge investments are required to set up an integrated steel plants and rolling mills. This is why supper powers like, USA , Russia , Britain and others do not joke with their steel industry.

National Daily check reveals that the eight years of Obasanjo rule witness the worst era in the history of the project. The administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo privatized the company to two dubious companies in less than three years as against all known norms and against public out cry and expert advice. These companies Solgas Energy of America and Global Holding Infrastructure Limited an Indian company help to finally kill the project. While Solgas America who took over the company in 2003 held unto the company without any progress in its fortunes, the Indian Firm on 13th August, 2004 took over the company, engages and palfrey of machines and valuables and outright vandalization of the equipments.

The concession agreement was however terminated by President Umoru Musa Yar'adua April 2008. Today, the company is in a dilemma. Workers are being owed seven months of salaries and allowances.
The chairman of Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSSAN), Comrade Abdulkareem Jimoh in chart with National Daily confirm that many workers have died as a result of illnesses with no money to pay hospital bills, as drugs were said to be out of stock while some decided to commit suicide.

Worst still is the case of the pensioners who are said to be in arrears of about 27 months. A pensioner Mall. I.A. Ajanaku who confided in the National Daily said some of the pensioners have died while waiting to collect pension which never came.

Mr. Ajanaku particularly accused the federal government of insensitivity to their plights. “I want to let you know that the government has not shown any concern over our plight. We are dying of hunger in the midst of plenty” he said.
Many have argued that, if the vision 2020 of the Umaru Musa Yar'adua is anything to go by the steel sector must be properly taken care off particularly the Ajaokuta Steel Company. Government must come out with definite policy as to what it wants to do with the project.