When Nigerians Protested In Abuja For Revival Of Ajaokuta Steel Company

Nigerian across status and ethnic backgrounds literally locked down the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)  Abuja on 25 January to protest on the insensitive of Nigerian Government to resuscitate the country’s steel industry expecially the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company.

The march on Abuja took the protesters to the National Assembly Complex and the Ministry of Justice.

In the early morning of that fateful day, what turned out to be a historical assembly of Nigerians, started as a bit-by-bit gathering of people from different states of the country. Before 10am, all around Eagle Square was dominated by agile Nigerian youths in white t-shirts and face caps carrying different placards with different captions as “PMB Be Steel”, Steel is Timeless”, “Revive Ajasteel”, “industrialise Nigeria” and the rest.

Everybody with different display materials which included banners, Nigerian flag, placards are with one voice demanding for need to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company, hand bands and pictures of some Nigerian heroes such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and others were also on display.

The protesting Nigerians to the National Assembly complex included Queen of Steel, Barr. Akpoti Natasha, Dr. Okeme Arome, Oyiza Adaba and others.

At the National Assembly complex, the protesters were received and addressed by a delegation comprised some senators and House of Representatives members  on behalf of the entire law makers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Immediately they sighted the crowd waiting for them, they were forced to apologise for the inconveniences ranging from the stoppage from entering the complex and failure of the entire law makers to receive the protesters.

While addressing the National Assembly members, Barr. Akpoti Natasha emphatically stated the challenges facing the giant steel company and the demands of Nigerians from President Muhammadu Buhari, which among other things include revocation of any agreement with the Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (GINL), President should take charge of the affairs to put life back on Ajaokuta Steel Company in order to cut off cabals, the government should send a high powered delegation to Russia to meet with the original builders and investigate the 2008 Ogaminana massacre which she described as a fight for national interest.

Concluding, Barr. Natasha gave a 30-day ultimatum for the National Assembly to act on their demands and handed a copy of the document to the lawmakers.

The law makers in their response, hailed the movement for coming to make these demands at the right time when the government is ready for diversification of the economy. They appreciated the efforts of Natasha for keeping the government on their toes. They described the movement as a very welcoming one that would be honoured President Buhari. They promised taking the demands to the floor of the two chambers for necessary action.

From the National Assembly, the protesters moved straight to the Federal Ministry of Justice where they were prevented from seeing the Attorney General by security agents on the excuse that the Minister was in a meeting. But this did not stopped Barr. Natasha and Dr Arome from addressing the crowd to emphasised again on the need for the Nigerian Government to save the steel industry and revive Ajaokuta Steel Company.