Nigerian Govt Allocates Over N700Million To ‘Moribund’ Ajaokuta Company For Materials Supply, Streetlights, Training
SaharaReporters’ breakdown and details of the budget allocation from the certified copy of the 2024 Fiscal Appropriation Act obtained from the Budget Office website, showed that the Nigerian government under Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, a government-owned steel company under the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, budgeted the sum of N 99,185,304 for “Supply of farm feed and farming materials for farmers in Obalende, Okofaji, Olowogbowo and Isale Eko areas of Lagos.”
The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government in the 2024 approved budget has allocated the sum of N729,185,304 to Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited for supply of farming materials, installation of street lights and entrepreneurship training in Lagos, Kwara and Niger states.
SaharaReporters’ breakdown and details of the budget allocation from the certified copy of the 2024 Fiscal Appropriation Act obtained from the Budget Office website, showed that the Nigerian government under Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, a government-owned steel company under the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, budgeted the sum of N 99,185,304 for “Supply of farm feed and farming materials for farmers in Obalende, Okofaji, Olowogbowo and Isale Eko areas of Lagos.”
Also, President Tinubu’s administration under Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited allocated the sum of N100 million for “Rehabilitation of road, supply and installation of solar street lights in Obalende, Okofaji Olowogbowo and Isale Eko areas of Lagos.”
In Kwara State, the Nigerian government budgeted N130 million under Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited for “Entrepreneurial development training and empowerment for women and youths across Kwara North Senatorial District, and supply and installation of 5 all-in-one solar street lights in some selected communities across Kwara South.”
The sum of N200 million was budgeted for “Provision of all-in-one solar street lights with high breed Lumen and 80 Watts LED lights in some selected rural communities and farms in Niger East Senatorial District, Niger State,” under Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
Another N100 million was budgeted under Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited for “Provision of all-in-one solar street lights with high breed Lumen and 80 Watts LED lights in some selected communities in Niger East Senatorial District.”
Also captured in the budget is another N100 million budgeted under Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited for “Provision of all-in-one solar street lights with high breed Lumen and 80 Watts LED lights for Shiroro, Gurara and Bosso local government areas in Niger East Senatorial District, Niger State”.
Meanwhile, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL), also known as Ajaokuta Steel Mill is a Nigerian steel mill located in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, built on a 24,000 hectares (59,000 acres) site starting in 1979, but was mismanaged and remains incomplete 40 years after its establishment, with three-quarters of its complex abandoned.
Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited which is under the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, has the mandate of “Production of quality steel and steel products for the industrialisation of Nigeria while meeting all standards.”
