The Abuja Steel Mills Limited has denied any involvement in the purchase of stolen and smelting of manhole covers on the FCT roads, stating that the allegations by the Minister Nyesom Wike are entirely baseless and inconsistent with its core values and established operational principles.
In a statement signed by the spokes person of the Abuja Steel Mills Ltd, Chethan Kumar, the organisation said it is committed to apprehending those responsible.
He said Abuja Steel Company is a responsible, tax-paying organisation committed to ethical and transparent business practices, strict adherence to industry regulations, with no history of involvement in shady or illegal activities, reports The Nation.
He said, “The company is fully committed and will cooperate with law enforcement agencies to uncover the truth and bring those responsible for the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure to justice.
“I am confident that ongoing work investigations will exonerate the company from the accusations. Abuja Steel Company operates on a large-scale industrial framework and does not engage in small-scale business negotiations or transactions with individuals or unauthorised agents, affirming that claims or insinuations that the company deals in such activities are false and misleading”.
The company Director, Dr. John Akanya asserted that thus “We are a world-class company and part of a group of companies that is the largest steel producer in Nigeria. We are the only steel manufacturing group that is fully integrated with an iron-ore mining and processing factory at Gujeni, Kaduna State.
“As such we are already moving away from scrap metals to direct reduced iron-ore from our sister company, African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML), again the company has initiated a thorough investigation into the matter and the source of the condemnable allegation in order to uphold its reputation and ensure accountability”.
The company urged the Nigerian public and its valued customers to disregard the allegations, stating that it perceives them as an attempt by some vested interests to malign its hard-earned reputation, the company stands resolutely against all forms of vandalism and theft that endanger public infrastructure and safety.
Kumar added that the company prides itself on being a cornerstone of responsible industrial practices in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and beyond, stating that they are dedicated to contributing positively to Nigeria’s economic development and maintaining public trust.
Recall that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had yesterday reportedly claimed to have identified one iron smelting company as one of the alleged buyers of stolen manhole covers in Abuja.
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, stated this in a statement in Abuja yesterday.
Olayinka had noted that some exhibits have been recovered from the company and were in the custody of the police.
He added that further investigations were ongoing to determine the company and others’ involvement in the removal, purchase, and melting of the manhole covers.
He explained that some of the suspected manhole vandals detained by the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were helping with useful information.
“The arrested persons are helping the security agencies with useful information about the buyers of the vandalised manhole covers and other infrastructure.”
Olayinka disclosed that the replacement of the vandalised manhole covers had begun on Sunday as directed by the FCT minister.
The Frontier yesterday reported that a 5.59-minute video sighted by our correspondent and posted by Savvark Media 360 highlighting the menace on Abuja highways had gone viral on the social media since last week.
Following this revelation, Olayinka had expressed Wike’s displeasure over the removal of sewage manhole covers on highways.
This, he said, was putting the lives of road users at risk.
The minister had vowed that the FCT Administration would do everything necessary to bring the perpetrators to book.
