A disagreement broke out on Wednesday between senator representing Kogi central Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and minister of steel development Shuaibu Audu, during a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on mines and steel development.
The session, chaired by Patrick Ndubueze, senator representing Imo north, focused on the budget of the ministry and the future of Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan questioned the federal government’s commitment to reviving the steel plant and compared its funding needs to other national projects.
“In retrospect, let’s say that the coastal road, which is 750 kilometres, has a projected cost of N15 trillion,” she said.
“And as a country, we’ve started funding that. N15 trillion is $11 billion. That is seven times what Ajaokuta steel needs. I have to reference this to let us know that if we are serious as a country, we will get the funds either which way.”
She criticised what she described as repeated discussions without action.
“We just meet, we talk to the media. And at the end of the day, we fold our arms and do nothing,” she said.
“Three years into you being a minister, we are still trying to go back and forth and write what is the best model to move Ajaokuta Steel Company forward. Isn’t that funny?”
The senator also referred to a 2019 bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Russia under which $1.45 billion was pledged for the project, stating that policies should not restart with every administration.
Tempers rose when she cautioned the minister against misleading the public over the agreement.
“We should not lie to Nigerians… and we have people that we are responsible to,” she said.
Audu objected to the remark.
“We are not lying to Nigerians. I take exception to that,” he said.
He attributed the delay in the Russia-backed arrangement to international sanctions.
“Just to provide clarity that the Russian government and the Russian federation is under a lot of sanctions on the international financial market,” he said. “So the transaction would not move forward.”
He added that due diligence was conducted on parties involved in the proposed plan and that the process went through the foreign ministry before the memorandum of understanding was signed.
As Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to ask further questions, Mr Ndubueze adjourned the session.
“Distinguished, let’s call it a day,” he said.
The senator protested the decision.
“I think you have disrespected me more than enough,” she said.
Ndubueze responded that she would have the opportunity to ask more questions at a subsequent hearing.
“I have respected you enough. When we come for the investigative hearing, you will ask more questions,” he said.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan later walked out of the meeting.
The committee resolved to hold further sessions on issues concerning Ajaokuta Steel Company.
