A heated exchange erupted on Wednesday between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, and Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, during a joint Senate and House of Representatives session on the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
The confrontation took place at the mines and steel development budget defence session, chaired by Senator Patrick Ndubueze of Imo North, with discussions centered on funding and the future of the long-stalled Ajaokuta Steel project.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), questioned the federal government’s seriousness in reviving the multi-billion-dollar steel plant, drawing comparisons with other national infrastructure projects.
“In retrospect, let’s say that the coastal road, which is 750 kilometres, has a projected cost of N15 trillion,” she said.
“And as a country, we’ve started funding that. N15 trillion is $11 billion. That is seven times what Ajaokuta steel needs. I have to reference this to let us know that if we are serious as a country, we will get the funds either which way.”
The Kogi senator criticised what she described as repeated discussions without concrete action on Ajaokuta Steel.
“We just meet, we talk to the media. And at the end of the day, we fold our arms and do nothing,” she said.
“And that is why three years into you being a minister, we are still trying to go back and forth and write what is the best model to move Ajaokuta Steel Company forward. Isn’t that funny?”
Akpoti-Uduaghan also referenced a 2019 bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Russia, under which $1.45 billion was reportedly pledged for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel. She stressed the importance of policy continuity regardless of changes in administration.
“Whether it’s a different government, there’s continuity in ministry,” she said.
Tensions escalated when she warned against misleading Nigerians about the status of the Russia agreement.
“We should not lie to Nigerians… and we have people that we are responsible to,” she said.
Minister Audu immediately rejected the allegation.
“We are not lying to Nigerians. I take exception to that,” he responded.
Addressing concerns over the stalled Russia-backed deal, Audu pointed to international sanctions against Russia as a key obstacle.
“Just to provide clarity that the Russian government and the Russian federation is under a lot of sanctions on the international financial market,” he said.
“So the transaction would not move forward.”
He maintained that thorough due diligence had been conducted before signing the memorandum of understanding.
“These are not just mom and pop shops… we did due diligence. This due diligence was done all the way up to the foreign ministry before we signed the international MoU,” he said.
As Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to press further, Chairman Patrick Ndubueze adjourned the session.
“Distinguished, let’s call it a day,” Ndubueze said, striking the gavel.
The senator objected to the move.
“I think you have disrespected me more than enough,” she said.
Ndubueze responded, “I have respected you enough. When we come for the investigative hearing, you will ask more questions.”
Minister Audu subsequently took a bow and exited the committee room, bringing the tense session to a close.
The latest clash underscores ongoing political and policy tensions surrounding the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, a project long seen as critical to Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic development.
