The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) leadership has urged President Bola Tinubu to initiate an immediate investigation into the alleged mismanagement of the dormant Ajaokuta Steel Company. NANS President, Lucky Emonefe, issued a statement in Abuja on Monday, emphasizing the need to hold accountable all individuals involved in the mismanagement.
Emonefe highlighted the potential of the Ajaokuta Steel Company to provide substantial employment opportunities for Nigerian students upon completion. The steel plant, when operational, could also serve as a technological hub for engineering students nationwide, fostering innovation and excellence in the field.
In addition to calling on President Tinubu, NANS urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch investigations into the management of the steel company.
The Senate had previously passed a resolution in February to probe the affairs of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the National Ore Mining Company in Kogi State from 2008 onwards. The investigation also aimed to uncover details surrounding the $496 million allegedly paid to Mr. Pramod Mittal, the Chairman of Global Infrastructure Holdings Limited, by the Federal Government in September 2022 as a settlement for contractual disputes.
Emonefe expressed concern about the lack of scrutiny and punishment for individuals implicated in the mismanagement of Ajaokuta Steel Company. He emphasized the importance of holding those responsible accountable to prevent a recurrence of such actions in the future.
The NANS president stated, “If acts like these go uninvestigated and unpunished, what is now the tendency that after rebuilding, some other people would not come and do the same thing to loot and ground it again the umpteenth time? This should not be.”
In conclusion, NANS urged the EFCC, ICPC, and other relevant agencies to resist any form of intimidation or shielding, ensuring a thorough investigation into the alleged mismanagement of Ajaokuta Steel Company and holding accountable those found responsible.
