The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Muhammed Sanni Gambo, has thrown his weight behind Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following her call for increased funding to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
Gambo, in a statement issued on Friday in Lokoja, described the senator as the pride of the party and the state, declaring that the PDP stood firmly with her.
“You are our pride, we stand with you,” he said.
His reaction followed reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s demand for adequate funding for the steel company during a budget defence session led to a heated exchange with the Chairman of the Senate Committee, Patrick Ndubueze.
Gambo commended the senator’s performance in the National Assembly, saying her advocacy reflected the expectations of Kogi residents.
He urged her to remain focused and not allow distractions derail her commitment to the state.
“The senator’s passion for Ajaokuta Steel is not new; it is a promise she made during her campaign,” he stated.
The PDP chairman described Akpoti-Uduaghan as “a pride of the 10th Senate” and expressed confidence that she would deliver on her mandate.
He also stressed the need for a functional steel industry, noting that it is critical to Nigeria’s socio-economic development and technological advancement.
Meanwhile, PUNCH Online reports that the Federal Government proposed N6.04bn for personnel costs for workers of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited in the 2026 budget, despite the company’s failure to produce steel for more than 40 years.
According to details in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, the company was allocated N6.69bn in total, with personnel expenses accounting for N6.04bn, representing about 90.4 per cent of the allocation.
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