FG to revive moribund industries

Intervening into the various case of moribund industries in Nigeria and the ailing Nigerian economy,the Federal Government of Nigeria has stated that it has stated the mobe to resusticate moribund industries across the 36 states of the Federation

This was stated by the Minster of Industries, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo ,when he led a Federal Government delegation on a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano , Aminu Ado -Bayero on Tuesday, 18th of August 2020

Adebayo , who was duly represented by the ministry ’s Director Planning , Alhaji Tijjani Babura , said the purpose of the visit to Kano was to inspect and assess the affected industries.

According to him , the team was not only in the state to assess the collapsed industries but also to see how those managing their operations despite economic challenges would be supported .

Adebayo said, “ After the inspection , we are going to report whatever we have seen back to our leaders so that we can see how and where to intervene .”

According to him , the present regime is working assiduously to fine -tune modalities for addressing the challenges bedevilling collapsed industries in the country .

The minister also stated that , “ Industrial revival is a great pillar for creating job opportunities for the teeming youths in the country .”

In his remarks , the Emir said the visit was very timely in view of the status of Kano as the commercial hub of West Africa .

He urged the delegation to fast track their work so as to ensure speedy revival of the industries in Kano and the country in general.

It will be recalled that the global outbreak of the novel virus has caused a lot of economic strains on various economy of different nations. The Nigerian economy has suffered so much economic and financial hit especially in the wake of the drop in oil price on the international market.

Recent economic policies has left to the death of various small scale businesses, the Nigerian government needs to embark on drastic measures to curtail the looming hit on its financial wit, especially in the wake of the recent statement made by the world bank that if the country is not well prepared it might hit it’s biggest recession in forty years.

There are various moribund industries across Nigeria which if fully restored to full operations will see to the country reduce it dependacy on crude oil as the mainstream of it’s economy.

Nigeria’s GDP could easily grow to $1trn by 2023 If we revive these 10 moribund industries

 

(1) Ajaokuta Steel Mill

 

No nation can industrialise without steel. Without it, you simply cannot go about manufacturing, so until we get that plant up and running, we are going nowhere. Come on now, we have been at this thing since 1979

 

(2) Jebba Paper Mill

 

When established, the Jebba Paper Mill was planned to be the largest such facility in West Africa. By now, it should have a virtual monopoly on the supply of newsprint across West Africa. It was recently taken over by an Indian businessman and began to function again. When set up in 1969, it was to have an annual output of 55,000 tonnes. I hope the new owners can get it back to full capacity

 

(3) Oluwa Glass Company, Igbokoda

 

Founded by the former Ondo State governor Michael Ajasin, this factory was the only one of its kind on the African continent. It was designed to supply automobile windscreens, drinking glasses, and the construction industry with windows. Today, it is lying totally derelict

 

(4) Okposi Salt Industry

 

During the Nigerian Civil War, this plant provided Biafra with all its salt. Using very basic technology, women processed water from Okposi Salt Lake and turned it into table salt. Do you know that the facility is still standing there today?

 

(5) Arewa Textiles Kaduna

 

Arguably the jewel in the manufacturing crown of northern Nigeria, this was one of Ahmadu Bello’s pet projects. It started off in 1955, when northern Nigerian government officials, working together with the British textile firm, David Whitehead & Sons, successfully began arrangements to build the first large textile manufacturing mill in Nigeria, Kaduna. Today, nothing is happening there

 

(6) Ile-Oluji Cocoa Grinding Plant

 

Another initiative of Governor Michael Ajasin, this plant was started as part of the integrated chocolate production chain. Nigeria is the world’s sixth-largest cocoa producer with an annual output of about 250,000 tonnes. Today, the global chocolate industry is worth about $105bn but I can tell you that Nigeria is not even getting $1bn from this. Economists say that a sum of $275m could easily be made if we add value to our cocoa exports

(7) Mokwa Cattle Ranch

 

This was another initiative introduced during the First Republic. Brought to Nigeria by the Germans, the Mokwa Cattle Ranch was actually designed to end the primitive practice of nomadism in Nigeria. The livestock at the plant was to be fed on special molasses diets. As of at 1973 when the Germans handed over the ranch to Nigeria, it still had 3,000 healthy cattle in it. Today, there is not one cow on the ranch

 

(8) Nigerian-Romanian Wood Industry, Ondo

 

This is another major tragedy as this plant actually got up and running. It was a major supplier of furniture to the home furnishing industry and by now, would have been exporting finished products to the industrialised world had we kept it going. How we ruined it is beyond me

 

(9) Bacita Sugar Company, Ilorin

 

Nigeria’s annual sugar consumption is about 2m tonnes but we only produce about 25,000 tonnes of this. I do not know of any sector where production lags so far behind consumption. Aliko Dangote’s Savannah Sugar Company in Adamawa State is trying to bridge the gap but alas, the gulf is massive

 

(10) Okitipupa Palm Oil Mill

 

Appearing to be making a comeback after an investor said it planned to pump $13m in the project, the Okitipupa Palm Oil Company began life in 1969 with the creation of plantations. In 1974, an oil processing mill was installed and in 1976, the firm was incorporated as a limited liability company. However, true to style, we let it fall into ruin, allowing Malaysia and Indonesia to overtake us as palm oil producers. Today, Nigeria consumes more palm oil than she produces

Just ask yourselves how many jobs reviving all these plants would create. Do we have a master plan to get them up and running?

Most of them are owned by state governments, so the initiative is down to the governors. If you ask me, the man to come up with the master plan is Kayode Fayemi, the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

 

Marcus Amudipe

August 19, 2020

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