Title: Ajaokuta Steel Company of Nigeria and concession: counting the human cost, 2003-2010

Authors: Noah Echa Attah

Addresses: Department of History and International Studies, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, PMB 5006, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract: Beginning from the 1980s, the Nigerian state has promoted and encouraged the liberalisation and commercialisation of production and distribution processes in tandem with liberal capitalism. The adoption of concession policy in the Ajaokuta Steel Company was therefore believed to be the key to the development of the industry, the bedrock of industrialisation in Nigeria. However, in the face of stark reality of deepening crisis in Ajaokuta Steel Company, concession became a chimera to its development. The extent of the correlation between the concession and the plight of the company's staff is explored in this paper.

Keywords: Ajaokuta Steel Company; economic development; concession policy; industrialisation; neo-liberal; Nigeria; liberalisation; commercialisation; liberal capitalism; deregulation; company personnel; employees; staff.

DOI: 10.1504/AJESD.2013.055140

African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 2013 Vol.2 No.2, pp.157 - 171

Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article