The report which provides a
comprehensive data in the area of raw materials production,
processing, marketing and research and development, among
others, was compiled by a multi-disciplinary taskforce made up
of researchers, manufacturers, industrialists and members of the
Organized Private Sector and covered pulp and paper products,
motor vehicles and miscellaneous, wood and wood products,
industrial plastics, tyres, food beverages and tobacco,
chemicals and pharmaceuticals, electrical and electronics,
non-metallic minerals, base metals, iron and steel, and textiles
and wearing apparel.
Speaking during the official
presentation of the report, the
Director General of the Council, Engr. (Prof) Peter Onwualu, noted
that the survey which had yielded the report was the third phase of
an exercise the Council having conducted previous ones in 2004 and
2005 respectively.
The DG also noted that the exercise
was influenced by a need to satisfy the yearnings of the
manufacturing sector for sustainability and growth through the
provision of relevant information on basic raw materials that serve
as industrial inputs to the sector and for manufacturing in Nigeria.
In his words: “The purpose of the
studies was to provide comprehensive information in the area of
production, processing, marketing and research development among
others in order to encourage prospective investors to venture into
production and processing of these commodities.
“The reform of the Federal
Government is yielding dividends in the area of raw materials
sourcing with partial or total substitution of some imported raw
materials with local inputs, thereby saving huge foreign exchange on
importation of these raw materials.”
Prof Onwualu also expressed
optimism that the report would provide the required benefits to
manufacturers, producers/suppliers of raw materials, processors,
researchers, consultants and the industry at large as it would
guarantee the influx of direct foreign investment in the real
sector, among other things.
Earlier, the newly appointed
Chairman of the RMRDC Governing Board, Alh. Sanusi Maijama’a, while
observing that the dearth of vital and specific information on raw
materials was the cause of the poor showing by the industrial sector
stressed that strategic and credible information on raw materials
had been provided by the report.
He therefore
urged the manufacturers to make good use of the information hereby
provided even as he urged RMRDC not to relent in its quest to assist
the private sector for sustainable development and growth
