The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has said that the federal government has no plans to concession the Ajaokuta Steel Company to any foreign firm.

The ministry said there was no official engagement with anybody on the steel company, describing the insinuations in some quarters to the contrary as misleading.

He, however, said the original concession agreement that was signed between Nigeria, Global Steel Holding Limited and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited “has been re-modified.”

Minister of Solid Minerals and Development, Kayode Fayemi, stated this when he hosted  the Executive Director of a Non-Governmental Organisation, CSR-in-Action, Bekeme Masade, who led a team of civil society organisations on a courtesy visit to him on Wednesday.

The minister, represented by his technical adviser, Egghead Odewale, also expressed concerns over the activities of illegal miners in the country.

He said, “The original concession agreement that was signed between the Federal Government of Nigeria, Global Steel Holding Limited and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited has been re-modified.

“It has been modified to decouple Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited from Nigeria Iron Ore Mining Company in Itakpe.

“What that also portends is that Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited now has seven years of their original concession to complete the mining operation to operate neo-coal in Itakpe, whereas Ajaokuta has reverted to the government of Nigeria,” Fayemi explained.