Youth group urges N’Assembly, Bello to halt Itakpe, ASC concession

Ajaokuta Steel Township Youth Vanguard for Development has called on Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, the National Assembly and the incoming President to halt the rush by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to concession Ajaokuta Steel and Itakpe National Iron Mining companies, both in Kogi.

Coordinator of the group, Ismaila Nasiru, at a briefing in Lokoja, yesterday, lamented the ministry’s bid to concession the two companies at the twilight of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The youth leader, who expressed concern over the ministry’s last hour decision, warned against a repeat of the Solgas & Oil disaster, which litigations almost ended all efforts towards its completion and operation.

He stated: “Just last April 21, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development put up an international and local advertisement on the concessioning of ASC. The advert gave only 20 days threshold for interested local and international companies to respond with detailed offers (not just expression of interest).”

“The major issue here is that the 20 days threshold given for response is not only grossly inadequate for any serious pre-bidding preparation and bill drafting by contenders for a gigantic company like Ajaokuta, but it is clearly at variance and in breach of Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) that specifies six weeks for tender advert and responses.”

According to him, the 20 days response will deny bidders the time to access and factor critical information and data in their proposals. He also urged the incoming President to revert to the earlier bill approved by both arms of the National Assembly for government to fully fund, complete and operationalise ASC first and privatise the companies at premium prices later.

“Alternatively, the transaction advisers should still be halted right away by the National Assembly due to the huge sum already paid to them, and if the in-coming government considers the transaction adviser credible, they can retain them but on a new agenda, and restrict bidding to only operators of large steel plants with records of successful operation,” he added.