The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has been urged to order the probe of the sum of $496million paid by the Federal Government to an Indian firm which failed to revitalize the Itakpe Iron Ore Company after many years of work engagement.
The National Coordinator of Transparency Group Network (TGN), a civil society organisation based in Port-Harcourt, the River State capital, Comrade Uche Michael, stated this while speaking to journalists on Tuesday.
He noted that the federal government should respect the opinion of over 250 million Nigerians by halting any further transaction on the revitalization of Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill which is aimed at transferring to foreigners through the back-door contrary to the national interest of protecting the heritage of the nation and National Assets.
Comrade Uche expressed worries over the poor system of governance adopted by the federal government through its relevant agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Steel Development and Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment among agencies of the government.
TGN further lamented that despite the presence highly intellectual personalities such as University Professors, Industrialists, members of national assembly, seasoned administrators, captains of Industries, technical and financial consultants among others, “It is unfortunate that our leaders still allow foreigners to fool the entire nation with unrealistic proposals and non-achievable business plans.”
The group commended the National Assembly Joint Committee on Steel Development for passing a resolution to probe the $496million paid by the Federal Government to an Indian firm which failed to revitalize the Itakpe Iron Ore Company even after many years.
Uche said: “the Global Infrastructure Holding Ltd., GIHL took over the National Iron Ore Mining Company, NIOMCO, Itakpe, Kogi State in 2016 and got its agreement terminated in 2019 due to non performance.
Speaking further, the TGN helmsman added that, “Another blunder was committed by handing over Ajaokuta, Itakpe mines with all the infrastructure and Delta Steel plants to GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDING LTD GHIL, India. They took over the plant and siphoned out all the resources from the country and eventually the country did not get any benefit.
