Chief Executive Officer of a Nigerian-based steel manufacturing
company, Mr Sanjay Kumar, has said that Nigeria has the potential to become a
global player in the manufacture and export of iron rods.
Kumar, CEO of African Foundries
Limited, made the statement while taking newsmen on a tour of the company’s
steel mill at Ogijo in Ogun State.
Limited, made the statement while taking newsmen on a tour of the company’s
steel mill at Ogijo in Ogun State.
“Nigeria has abundant iron ore deposit and if the full potential
of government is ploughed into its exploration and exploitation, this country
can begin to produce steel for export.
of government is ploughed into its exploration and exploitation, this country
can begin to produce steel for export.
“The potential is there for Nigeria because of her drive toward
economic diversification; her manpower base; her intellectual base in
metallurgy science; and because she possesses abundant natural resources for
steel production.
economic diversification; her manpower base; her intellectual base in
metallurgy science; and because she possesses abundant natural resources for
steel production.
“It is without doubt that Nigeria has
the capacity to become Africa’s voice in the international market place for the
manufacture, marketing and exportation of rods,“ Kumar said.
the capacity to become Africa’s voice in the international market place for the
manufacture, marketing and exportation of rods,“ Kumar said.
He said that indigenous steel producing
companies were doing enough to bridge the local demand-supply chain, adding
that domestic rod production could reach 1.25 million tonnes by 2013.
companies were doing enough to bridge the local demand-supply chain, adding
that domestic rod production could reach 1.25 million tonnes by 2013.
Kumar urged the Federal Government to improve on the nation’s
infrastructure to encourage more investors to go into the production of steel
and iron rods locally.
infrastructure to encourage more investors to go into the production of steel
and iron rods locally.
Mr Uche Iwuamadi, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, African
Foundries Limited, said that local rod manufacture would abate the nation’s
unemployment ratio.
Foundries Limited, said that local rod manufacture would abate the nation’s
unemployment ratio.
According to him, the steel making
industry attracts skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour which Nigerian has
in abundance.
industry attracts skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour which Nigerian has
in abundance.
“Recycling of scrap metal entails
getting scavengers to go get waste metal objects and supply mills that use them
to produce rods.
getting scavengers to go get waste metal objects and supply mills that use them
to produce rods.
“About 5,000 people alone have been
known to be gainfully employed and supplying us with the scrap metals we
recycle for our production,“ he said.
known to be gainfully employed and supplying us with the scrap metals we
recycle for our production,“ he said.
The Technical Director of African Foundries Limited, Mr Ravi
Sharma, said that building collapse in Nigeria should not be blamed on use of
substandard iron rods.
Sharma, said that building collapse in Nigeria should not be blamed on use of
substandard iron rods.
He said that rods alone have not been known to be the cause of
building collapsing.
building collapsing.
“There is the need, however, for more government intervention in
checking the importation and production of substandard building materials,“ he
said.
checking the importation and production of substandard building materials,“ he
said.
Sharma said that Nigeria ought, by now, to have been exporting
steel and rod to other countries, especially those in Africa.
steel and rod to other countries, especially those in Africa.
