Reps probe NIOMCO-Premium Steel deal, procurement breaches

The House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development has launched a preliminary investigation into the sub-lease and operation agreement between the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) and Premium Steel and Mines Limited. This probe was prompted by a petition from Public Accountability & Transparency International, which raised concerns over alleged breaches of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, by the Federal Ministry of Steel Development and its agencies.

The committee, led by Chairman Zainab Gimba, disclosed this in a letter to the Minister of Steel Development on September 10, 2026. The investigation will focus on the agreement's compliance with the Public Procurement Act, the necessary presidential approval, consultation with the National Assembly, and whether the transaction involved the allocation of iron ore meant for Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.

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