Civil society opposed sale of Nigeria Iron Ore Mining Company

Sunday, 03 Jul 2011

It is reported that a Kogi State based group, Coalition of Civil Society Groups will oppose the sale of Nigeria Iron Ore Mining Company in Itakpe, Kogi State to any buyer that is not interested in buying the Ajaokuta Steel Company also in the state.

The BUA Group is said to be proposing to purchase the NIOMC under a negotiated sales arrangement of willing buyer/willing seller arrangement.

NIOMC provides raw material to the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company.

Mr Alhaji Momoh Jimoh Bajehson group chairman said that the indigenes of Kogi Central Senatorial district do not want Ajaokuta Steel Company to be rendered useless by selling its raw material arm to a buyer who is not ready to buy the two companies together.

Mr Alhaji Bajehson said if government must sell the Itakpe Iron Ore, it must be sold with the Ajaokuta Steel Company, adding that the group would not agree with the idea of selling the companies to different buyers.

He said the two companies are like twins and taking one away from the other would cause more havoc than good to the people of the area. He also said if the BUA Group is not only after the iron ore concentrates in the Itakpe and it should buy the company with the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

He added that the coalition has resolved to do everything possible to stop attempts to decouple NIOMCO from Ajaokuta Steel Company. He however said the group would continue to dialogue with relevant government agencies in other to get what they want. (sourced from AllAfrica)