The House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development says it will review all audit reports on the Ajaokuta Steel Company to ensure a comprehensive legislative process for its revival.
The committee’s Chairman, Zainab Gimba, emphasised the importance of examining past evaluations, including those from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, to guide the revitalisation efforts.
Gimba spoke on Thursday when she led members of the committee on an oversight visit to the Ministry of Steel Development, The Nations reports.
Meanwhile, Minister of Steel Development, Mohammed Audu, reassured the lawmakers that while independent assessments have been conducted, the government’s procurement process remains transparent and thorough.
Gimba said, “I would like you also make the clarification that the House, under its legislative process is focusing on taking a critical look at all audit reports on Ajaokuta Steel Company.
“We are accessing all past reports, especially those carried out under former President Obasanjo and by the Nigeria Society of Engineers. We are discussing with them to see what is there, to know where we are, and to see what is going to happen.
“The House cannot go out of the process to see Ajaokuta revived. We are discussing with the ministry to see what they are doing towards reviving Ajaokuta and we are here to see that legislative processes have been followed and adhered to.”
Speaking on the visit, Gimba said “We have heard their challenges. We know that one of the major focuses of this government is to develop the steel sector.
“The steel sector is expected to take over from the only sector given the fact that oil is getting exhausted. You know the efforts of the President in his renewed hope agenda is to develop a steel sector that is viable and will bring a lot of fortune to Nigerians. We are particularly optimistic about efforts to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company and the entire steel sector.”
In his remarks, the steel development minister refuted claims that the ministry had violated procurement procedures by permitting a Russian company to conduct an audit of the complex before completing the official processes.
He emphasised that the complex is open to any interested party for auditing, with no cost incurred by the government.