By Ayodele Oni
The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) has tasked President Bola Tinubu’s government to beam its searchlight on the Ajaokuta Steel Company mismanagement, with a view to identify those behind looting of the venture.
NANS, expressed concerns about alleged misconduct in Ajaokuta Steel Company and urged President Tinubu to order a thorough investigation into reported the alleged mismanagement.
“Having a Sole Administrator for the past 12 years to oversee a public and national company like Ajaokuta Steel is not good enough.
“This gives room for corruption in the sense that there will be no one else to check the excesses of the Sole Administrator and this may give him/her an ample chance to steal.”
In a statement on Monday signed by NANS Universal President, Lucky Emonefe, the association vowed not to back down on fights of this peculiarity, especially one that is against the tenets of financial accountability and transparency.
‘’If there are individuals or group of individuals protecting the corrupt managers of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and hereby shielding them from any form of probe and judgement, it simply means that they are beneficiaries of the ill-gotten proceeds of the mismanagement.”
The student body implored the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices & Other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to stand their ground against every form of intimidation or shielding, as they probe and investigate mismanagement in Ajaokuta Steel Company.
NAN advised that ‘’While the revamping of this company is going on, the probing of these culprits should aggressively continue.
“Both can go concurrently, and one will not affect another. As a matter of fact, the probing is an essential part of the revamping because investigators and other Stakeholders may discover in the course of probing that some bad eggs are still on the management and staff of this Steel Company.
“With these probes, many unveilings will take place, giving way to a holistic revitalization and resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
‘’This is simply because if these offenders are brought to book, it will serve as a deterrent to others who are aspiring to steal from the company as soon as it starts operation again.
“Bringing them to book will help the company grow in the sense that the money recovered from these offenders would be pumped back into the company and it will give it a higher lift in every sense.”
The students body commended the president and national assembly for their commitment to ensure that the steel company survive.
“The leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, the umbrella body with over 50million members across the nation, wants to sincerely appreciate H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the humongous effort he has put into the development of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, since he assumed office.
“From history, apart from the Shehu Shagari era, this will be the first time that this company would be having this kind of unusual support from the Federal Government. This is highly commendable.
“We also want to appreciate the office of the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot AKPABIO, CON, for his huge and tireless efforts in making sure that this company comes back on its feet and deliver the purpose with which it was founded. All his efforts are seen and they won’t go unappreciated.”
 has tasked President Bola Tinubu's government to beam its searchlight on the Ajaokuta Steel Company mismanagement, with a view to identify those behind looting of the venture.){kind=link}