…Bill passes first reading
OpeOluwani Akintayo
13 July 2018, Sweetcrude, Lagos — The Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, ASCL, is about to have its own law, SweetcrudeReports has learned.
The bill sponsored by Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, representing Ndokwa/Ukwani, Delta State, passed the first reading at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, 10th July.
If eventually passed into law, it will serve as a norm of conduct for the resuscitation, operations, and management of ASCL (National Iron Ore Mining Company, including Itakpe).
In a note to SweetcrudeReports, Barr. Natasha Apkoti, said if successful, the law will protect Ajaokuta from “misfortunes arising from vested private interests, overzealous government interruptions, provide resolution for conflicts and contain consequences for breaking the law”.
“The absence of this proposed law has been the reason for government’s unpatriotic actions or inactions on Ajaokuta Steel over the past many years”, she said.
“In short, this law will ensure that social justice is served on Ajaokuta while ensuring that the good people of Nigeria enjoy the dividends of our God-given resources through a viable steel sector”, she added.
