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FG urged to adopt indigenization policy in Iron, Steel sector
The federal government has been urged to show more concerns to the many challenges facing the Iron and Steel manufacturers by indigenizing the sector such that government holds only marginal interest and the indigenous investors get major interests.
The Chairman, Basic Metal, Fabricated Iron and Steel Products, a sectoral arm of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN), Dr. Kamoru Yusuf, stated this in Ilorin on Thursday.
Yusuf who is also the Group Managing Director/CEO of KAM Holding Ltd, spoke at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, stressing that the future of iron and steel business in Nigeria will heavily be dictated by the policy thrust of the government which.
He noted that the policy must be tailored towards rendering necessary support and ease of doing business to investors in the sector.
ROYAL NEWS reports that the meeting was attended by relevant government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as local and foreign chief executives of iron and steel companies.
“It is the position of the general public that Ajaokuta steel plant should work again in the hands of local investors. Nigeria needs to pride herself as the giant of Africa by making judicious use of her highly talented, patriotic and committed indigenous investors with adequate recognition of the stakes of the government.
“Without mincing words, the assets should not be handed over to foreign investor(s), rather, it should be managed 100 per cent by a competent indigenous investor who had demonstrated capability with evidence of success stories on existing steel plants and wire processing factories.
“With this, government can and may own 40%, while the investor will own 60%. This will no doubt, enhance easy, sustainable, and rewarding business fortunes for the nation. Every phase and processes of the investment must be given cognizance attention and priority.”
He further stressed that, “the nation is assured that the capital and proceeds would remain here and will be re-invested into our economy, if indigenous steel investors are given the chance to resuscitate Ajaokuta.
The Federal Government should take a cue from its developed counterparts by allowing Credit Insurance Underwriters to operate in Nigeria, adding that investment in the iron and steel business is capital-intensive with huge risks.
“We believe that with policy shift, some benefits will accrue;This would complement the Backward-Integration Policy of the
Government, which seeks to preserve our scarce foreign exchange and create employment for millions of Nigerians directly and indirectly.
“There will be more liquidity in the Nigerian economy and Nigeria would have the opportunity of competing with her peers in the continent and across the globe. It will minimise brain drain to foreign countries in the name of search for greener pasture, especially among our teeming youths.
“Nigeria would be able to participate successfully in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and compete favourably
among countries in the continent.Ajaokuta will come with good opportunity of reinvigorating the automobile sector of the economy after a successful installation and commissioning of ultramodern machineries.”
Also speaking, the director, Industrial Development Department, federal ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adewale Bakare, said that the stakeholders’ meeting was necessitated by the ongoing effort of the ministry at repositioning the iron and steel sector through development of workable policies and strategies for the growth and development of the sector.
“Our developmental history shows that Nigeria started its nation’s building with a strong iron and steel sector including the establishment of the Ajaokuta steel complex which was a beacon of hope in the early days.
“However, present realities shows that the iron and steel industry has not achieved the desired development as the various sub-sectors under the iron and steel industry have remained at the levels of infancy or non-existent, living the country to depend largely on importation of iron and steel products”, he said.
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