You are a failure, Akpoti blasts PSML

A social crusader and rights’ advocate for profitable resuscitation of the steel sector in Nigeria, Barr. Natasha Hadiza Akpoti has declared that the current concessionaire in Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja now Premium Steel and Mines Limited, PSML is a failure and lacks the capacity to drive the plant profitably.

 Barr. Akpoti sued for collaboration between host communities to Ajaokuta Steel Plant and Delta Steel Company to ensure an acceptable spread of results, which shall be binding to drive a new vision for the Nigerian steel sector.

Akpoti stated this during a visit to the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State on Friday June 29.

She explained how the current investors have allegedly undermined the plant and the new vision for a better administration for the benefit of the host communities.

Akpoti who hails from Kogi State, noted ‘’DSC’s administrative malpractices with regards to the current concessionaire in terms of legality of their occupation and meeting up with the expected derivables should be critically investigated by the relevant authorities as is currently being done with Ajaokuta Steel Company.The steel sector worldwide is known to be a creator of employment much more than the oil sector. DSC stood at a moment in time employing over 3,000 direct staff and had the capacity to stimulate a downstream sector capable of employing hundreds of thousands more. Today, Udu community, Delta State and Nigeria has over 80% of her youths unemployed. The current operator of DSC is grossly below its capacity, which in turn affects its economic fortune and output to the host community’’.  

“As at today, DSC shadows itself to its people but is invariably being further used and abused by the present concessionaire to their selfish advantage. My three yearadvocacy for the judicious revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company (ASC) and NIOMCO has gotten the deserved attention of the Federal government and stirred national and international interests. This has led to a couple of proactive measures been taken by the National Assembly such as establishment of a 1billion dollars funding for Ajaokuta; deletion of ASC from the privatization list; creation of a Steel bill; establishment of Steel Development Authority; and consideration of inviting the original builders from Russia as technical partners for the completion of the plant. Considering the similarities of misfortune between Ajaokuta and DSC amongst others, it would only be just to promote a synergy of collaboration between our advocacies to ensure an acceptable spread of results, which shall be binding to drive a new vision for the Nigerian steel sector’’, she added.

In his reaction, the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, HRM (Barr.) E.B.O Delekpe, Owhorhu 1, expressed satisfaction with the presentation, stressing that as far as Udu is concern, Premium Steel and Mines Limited has nothing to offer and so cannot drive the plant profitably.

He added that the Udu people were eager to partner with persons and institutions who could help drive the process of getting credible investors for the company.

 The traditional ruler also set up a committee of four: Chief Sam Odibo, Chief J.G Notoma, Chief (Mrs.)  Elizabeth Okene and Chief William Riebelle to serve on partnership drive with the advocacy.

The Udu monarch also disclosed that the Urhobo Progress Union, in a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari earlier in the week, also impressed it on the presidency to edge out the current investors for a better and more credible take-off of the plant.

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