Ajaokuta needs N3 billion for resuscitation of plants, says Senate Chair

Not less than N3 billion is needed in 2021for rehabilitation of 21 plants at Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Project which has been under construction for close to 40 years.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines and Steel Development, Senator Tanko Almakura (APC Nasarawa South) disclosed this to journalists in Abuja.

He also lamented that contract staff working in Mining Cadastral Office might not be getting their monthly salaries from January as World Bank responsible had pulled out of the programme.

According to him, the money needed to facilitate the engagement of experts from Russia is not included in the 2021 budget earmarked for the Ministry Mines, Steel and Solid Minerals.

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He said he had made presentation to that effect to the Senate Committee on Appropriation during presentation of the 2021 budget estimates of the Ministry to the committee on Thursday last week.

He stated that the remarks made by the Committee led by Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North) for provision of the money in the final report on the 2021 budget, was not assuring enough.

He said, “Nigeria has spent a lot on the Ajaokuta project than to allow just N3billion to make her decades old efforts , a mirage.

“Resuscitation of Ajaokuta is key to Industrialization and development of the country. The Mines, Steel and Solid Minerals Ministry appealed to us during budget defence, to effect Appropriation for the N3billion.

“Since we cannot on our own as joint committees on Mines, Steel and Solid Minerals, increase the enveloped budget presented to us by the Ministry , we pushed the appeal to the Appropriation Committee for the required appropriation .

“The N3 billion is very necessary to be provided for in saving the Iron and Steel Project from total comatose,” he said.

When contacted on whether the N3billion will be appropriated as additional fund for the Iron and Steel Company, Senator Barau paucity of fund was affecting all sectors.

He added that the 2021 N13.08 trillion budget was projected on expected revenues and not monies already kept somewhere.