President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a Ajaokuta Presidential Project Inauguration Team (APPIT) to kick start the process of re-directing the activities of the Steel Plant with the aim of bringing the Steel Project back to life for the growth and economic development of Nigeria.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha who inaugurated the team today, May 11 in Abuja, said: “I am happy to note that preliminary works have commenced, determining parameters for the effective and coordinated take-off of rehabilitation works on the Steel plant.
It is on this note that Mr President graciously approved the composition of this Implementation Team that is being inaugurated today.”The team, headed by the SGF himself, is to engage in all bilateral negotiations as shall be necessary on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, leading to the execution of the Government-to-Government Agreement with the Russian Federation and the Afreximbank.
While it will also provide all relevant technical and other inputs necessary to close the Government-to-Government negotiations, the team is to ensure that the best extreme possible, all relevant raw materials are sourced locally, bearing in mind the local content provisions and the Presidential Executive Order 005.Other tasks set before the team are to scrutinize and assemble Nigerian Content Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Special Purpose Vehicle Contractors which will embody the Co-Concessionaire representing Nigeria’s interest in the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Concession;“Ensure the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Plant (ASP) based on the original design, and ensure timely commissioning of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant (ASP) within a reasonable period to be agreed upon by the parties to the agreement and recommend primary tenure of a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Concession”.
Membership of the Ajaokuta Presidential Project Implementation Team (APPIT) include the Minister of Mines and Steel Development who would serve as alternate Chairman, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, as well as Mr Gabriel Aduda, a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF.Others are the Sole Administrator, Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd, Sole Administrator, National Iron Ore Mining Company, Engr. Vincent Dogo, Prof. Elegba S.B., Dr. Godwin Adeogba (the trio being Industry Experts), Director-General, ICRC and Director Steel, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
