ABUJA – On Monday, youths from the Middle Belt region called for a thorough investigation into the Ajaokuta Steel Company, criticizing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its perceived inaction. The group, operating under the Middle Belt Youth Council, also urged for presidential intervention to address longstanding issues of corruption and mismanagement surrounding the national asset.
In a press briefing in Abuja, Comrade Emmanuel Zopmal, National Youth Leader of the Middle Belt Forum, highlighted ongoing concerns about the Ajaokuta Steel Company project. He accused the consortium managing the project of having a dubious record, citing contract scandals in countries such as Libya, India, Bulgaria, and Bosnia. The project has been marred by repeated contract renegotiations, cost overruns, and a lack of transparency, according to Zopmal.
### Allegations and Demands
The Middle Belt youths alleged that officials from the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Ajaokuta Steel Company are complicit in corrupt practices. They demanded that the EFCC investigate these claims and prosecute those involved.
Zopmal stated, “We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the EFCC to investigate the long history of corrupt practices, financial mismanagement, and lack of accountability at the Ajaokuta Steel Company. Established in the 1970s to drive industrialization and economic development in Nigeria, the reality of the project is dire.”
He further emphasized that all major figures involved in the international consortium contract negotiations, including those from the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, Federal Ministry of Justice, and Ajaokuta Steel Company, should be identified and held accountable.
### Call for Presidential Action
The Middle Belt Youth Council expressed their commitment to pursuing justice and demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu direct the EFCC and relevant government agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation. They called for the investigation’s findings to be made public and for those found guilty to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“We are committed to seeing this through. The Middle Belt Youth Council will take any necessary steps to ensure this giant company is completed and operationalized. We urge President Tinubu to intervene and ensure that the Ajaokuta Steel Company fulfills its potential as a driver of industrialization and economic development in Nigeria,” Zopmal added.
The youths’ demand for action underscores the broader concern over the effective utilization of national resources and the need for transparency and accountability in major infrastructure projects.
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