The Chairman Senate Committee on Privatization, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, has said Nigeria has no business signing rail deals with China, when the tracks can be produced in the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company.
Murray-Bruce, who stated this on Tuesday in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, when he led the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Privatization to Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company, said such deals with China makes no sense and shows lack of coordination.
He said the present state of the steel company which was almost 90 percent complete but abandoned by previous governments does not speak well of the country.
He said: “For 22 years they should have had a plan through the minister of national planning. The minister of national planning should be the one integrating the policies of any government in power at the particular time.
“When you go through the detailed presentation and listen to arguments it is difficult to draw conclusions. When you don’t listen to the reasons why you are here in the first place?
“That is why it was important for all of us to listen to the arguments and understand the reason why. But let me say this, I am really touched by the presentation and the kind of leadership you have here. What is really clear to me is that the management of Ajaokuta Steel plant has on board very patriotic Nigerians because you must never sell your soul for money.
“First of all, you are a Nigerian, secondly you want to develop this beautiful country and create job opportunities for your people, and more importantly you want to create an environment where those of us in office will look back and say while I was there I did something for my people, but obviously this is not the case.”
He said the committee will meet with the Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and hold a public hearing on the Ajaokuta Iron Steel Company on Thursday. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
This guys is just making noise. If we have the still, do we have the technology on hw to use it for rail? Or does he think it is just enough to produce the still
ReplyDeleteIt is not noise. It is commonsense. Past administration was more interested in sharing money belonging to all of us.
DeleteAjaokuta can provide the raw material for rail, even building construction.
We should learn how to be constructive with our criticism.ben is right.let sign the contract with China but the raw materials like steel rails will be from nigeria.let the work go on
ReplyDeleteWe should learn how to be constructive with our criticism.ben is right.let sign the contract with China but the raw materials like steel rails will be from nigeria.let the work go on
ReplyDelete