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Tension In Senate Committee As Natasha Akpoti Was Blocked From Speaking On Ajaokuta Revival


Fresh controversy has emerged in the Senate over the stalled revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company (ASC) and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), following a dramatic committee session in which Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was reportedly denied the opportunity to speak.

The incident occurred during a meeting of the Senate Committee overseeing matters related to steel development. According to sources present, the Committee Chairman, Senator Patrick Chukwuba Ndubueze, declined to recognize Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan — who serves as Vice Chairman of the committee — despite her indication to contribute to discussions concerning Ajaokuta. The Chairman subsequently called the session to a close with his gavel.

The development has sparked reactions among observers who view the move as counterproductive, especially given the strategic importance of Ajaokuta to Nigeria’s industrial ambitions.

Nearly two years ago, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at reviving Ajaokuta Steel Company and NIOMCO. However, progress has remained slow, with the Minister previously citing the Russia-Ukraine war and its impact on international partnerships as a major setback to implementation.

Ajaokuta Steel Company, conceived in 1979, remains one of Nigeria’s most ambitious industrial projects. When fully operational, it is expected to serve as the backbone of the nation’s steel industry, support infrastructure development, reduce import dependence, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. NIOMCO in Itakpe, also in Kogi State, is designed to supply iron ore to the Ajaokuta plant.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central — the district hosting the steel complex — has been vocal in pushing for accountability and concrete timelines on the project’s completion. Analysts argue that preventing a key stakeholder from contributing to oversight discussions undermines the broader objective of transparency and effective legislative scrutiny.

Political observers note that legislative committees play a critical role in ensuring executive accountability. Any perception of internal suppression, particularly on issues of national economic importance, risks eroding public confidence in governance.

As debate continues, stakeholders insist that the revival of Ajaokuta must transcend partisan interests and personal dynamics. With Nigeria seeking pathways to industrial growth and economic diversification, many argue that unity of purpose — rather than internal power struggles — is essential to unlocking the long-delayed promise of the country’s steel sector.

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