A tense confrontation broke out on Wednesday between Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central, and Shuaibu Audu, minister of steel development, during the mines and steel development budget defence session.
The disagreement occurred at a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives committee overseeing the ministry’s budget. Both figures hail from Kogi State, though Audu is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while Akpoti-Uduaghan belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Chaired by Patrick Ndubueze, senator representing Imo North, the session largely centred on funding plans and the future of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged the federal government’s dedication to reviving the steel plant, drawing comparisons with other large-scale national 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.”
She also faulted what she described as repeated discussions without visible results.
“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?”
The senator further referenced a 2019 bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Russia, under which $1.45 billion was reportedly committed to the Ajaokuta project. She stressed the importance of policy continuity across administrations.
“Whether it’s a different government, there’s continuity in ministry,” she said.
‘DON’T LIE TO NIGERIANS’
Tensions escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan warned against giving the public inaccurate information regarding the Nigeria-Russia agreement.
“We should not lie to Nigerians… and we have people that we are responsible to,” she said.
Audu strongly rejected the claim.
“We are not lying to Nigerians. I take exception to that,” the minister responded.
Addressing concerns over the stalled Russian-backed deal, Audu pointed to international sanctions imposed on Russia.
“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 added that comprehensive checks had been carried out on stakeholders involved in the proposed revival process.
“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.
Efforts by Akpoti-Uduaghan to continue her questioning were halted when Ndubueze brought the session to a close.
“Distinguished, let’s call it a day,” the chairman said, striking the gavel.
Akpoti-Uduaghan objected to the adjournment.
“I think you have disrespected me more than enough,” she said.
Ndubueze replied: “I have respected you enough. When we come for the investigative hearing, you will ask more questions.”
Following the exchange, Audu bowed and left the committee room.