SEMINAR ON PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF LOCAL SOURCING OF RAW MATERIALS FOR THE NON-METALLIC MINERAL INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA

The Council and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) organized a seminar on the “Prospects and Challenges of the Local Sourcing of Raw Materials for the Non-Metallic Mineral Industry in Nigeria.” The seminar was held at MAN headquarters, 77, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos on August 17, 2004.  It was the fourth in the series of collaborative seminars, organized annually for the purpose of addressing the problems of the 10 sectoral groups of MAN with respect to local sourcing of raw materials. The seminars provide an opportunity for manufacturers, relevant government officials and other stakeholders to jointly examine the problems and challenges facing the sectors. 

After analyzing the problems, participants at the seminar, came up with recommendations, part of which were:

Considering the bulky nature of solid mineral and the neglect which mining sites had suffered over the years, government should extend infacstructural facilities such as roads, rail system and power through connection to the national grid.

The ban on importation of barite and bentonite should be sustained in order to encourage local patronage.

Government should establish a bank for solid mineral development.

Detailed exploratory studies should be carried out to ascertain the extent of reserves for solid mineral.

Government should continue to encourage patronage of local alternative building materials through mass campaign. 

Industrialists should strictly adhere to government policy on environmental protection; in particular, effluents should be treated before discharging into the environment.

Duty on machinery and spare parts for the sector should be reduced for bonafide manufacturers

Establishment of Technology Incubation Centers (TIC) in all the states of the Federation should be encouraged

More investments in the production of raw materials for Plaster of Paris (POP) and crayon should be encouraged to meet local demand.

There should be ban on all types of glass that can be produced locally.

Government should sustain efforts toward attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the sector

Government should encourage alternative energy sources particularly coal and gas.

These recommendations have been referred to appropriate government agencies for  inclusion in policy formulation.