Ajaokuta, child stillborn?
A bit of its story.
England (Britain) was approached to help realise that aspect of the Six Year Plan.
Response to the request from the government of Balewa by England was that the raw materials for such an industry were not available in Nigeria. Therefore , would be day dreaming of the government to wish to build Iron and steel industry.
Determined to get it done Tafawa Balewa turned to Canada – a fellow commonwealth country – and de facto England by proxy (though the government then did not appreciate the sameness).Canada is an extension of England in North America. But as part of colonial imposed policy, if you are unable to get what you needed from Britain as a commonwealth country, you turn to another commonwealth country before any other country. Hence , after England failed to meet the request of our Prime minister, Tafawa Balewa turned to Canada.
Canada responded to the request in the same way as England. The required raw materials for such an industry were not available in Nigeria.
So , Tafawa Balewa’s government raced to a major powerful country in the western world, the United States of America with the dear to his heart project.
Prime minister, Tafawa Balewa was told the same story of the absence of iron ore and related raw materials within the length and breadth of Nigeria. But that for the purpose of prestige Nigeria may indeed build Iron and steel industry, but have to import relevant raw materials for such an important industry.
The USA company approached indicated readiness to import the required raw materials from its own company branch operating in Liberia.
Then the January 15, 1966 coup ; civil war and the conspiracy by the western world to refuse and in fact the refusal to supply Yakubu Gowon ‘s government weapons to prosecute the civil war impelled Dr. Gowon ‘ s government to approach the government of the USSR. The new relationship with the USSR and the outcome of the war enthused Dr Gowon and wanted the government of the USSR to help ascertain if truly there were no iron ore and related raw materials within the length and breadth of Nigeria.
The result of the Six months geological survey carried out by a team of 13 experts sent from the USSR to do the job revealed that the raw materials for such an industry are in abundance.
Thus , the Russians were given the opportunity to work on the project.
A gigantic project of the sort to be executed in Nigeria by a “communist” country in the cold war era would not have irked the western world. Therefore , foreign conspiracy has lot to do with the continous failings being experienced to date. Remember , in addition, until recently iron related matterials used in Nigeria came from the West.
The inability of those operating government apparatus to decern athentic friends and foxes , genuine foes is a fundamental obstacle couple with the incurable corrupt practices. Imagine , the government picked a French company as consultants, but it imports a huge portion of iron and steel related matterials used in our construction industry as at that from France!
Firms that the awarded the civil constructions to Fuggerol, Dumez, Julius Berger, etc are western construction companies.
Recall how many times they abandoned works austensbly for delayed payment.
When NAASAI team visited the steel complex in 1986 Dr. Ojo then General Manager -Production showed us some parts moulded there on the orders of Port Harcourt refinery. It was as if we would soon be able to reach destination, but it was not to be.
There are blames all over there , but now there should not be any chances to empower the conspirators by yielding to any new diversion that would cause another four and a half decades delay.
Nigeria and Russia must demonstrate their commitment to the project and show that they are capable and have the capacity to ward off intruders , diversionary , etc.;
Should deploy all necessary state apparatuses apart from money to ensure all is well this time.
No third party of any kind.
Russia is the inheritor of USSR. Russia cannot share that with any other former member republic.
If we succeed, it bears the glory , but it bears the shame wholly if otherwise. May the otherwise not be this time. We can only guarantee the success if only the principals bear the cross.
We now have enough qualified and committed Nigerian experts to constitute a team of consultants from.
The government of Nigeria should look at it squarely and take appropriate action.
Some wiki leaks on Ajaokuta https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/03ABUJA2161_a.html
https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/04ABUJA371_a.html