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Ajaokuta Steel Turn Around: Matters Arising

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The recent statement
from the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, about the decision of the present administration to revamp the Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd., is inspiring and promising.
Industrialists opine that the completion of the moribund plant will accelerate the desire of Nigeria to become one of the 20th economies of the world by 2020.
They recall that the idea behind a steel project in Nigeria started in 1958 when the colonial administration inaugurated a feasibility study on iron ore deposits in the country.
In 1967, a United Nations Industrial Development Organisation survey identified Nigeria as a potential steel market which led to the signing of a bilateral agreement between the defunct Soviet Union and Nigeria.
Further to this, in1971, an extra-ministerial agency — the Nigerian Steel Development Authority —was established by Decree No.9 to actualise the establishment of a steel plant in the country.
The actual work on the Ajaokuta Steel Company began in 1979 during the administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari and as at 1983 the work on the plant had reached 95 per cent completion.
In spite of this level of completion, the plant had suffered years of neglect under successive administrations.
Although former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s conceded the plant to Global System Steel Holdings Ltd., an Indian firm, the concession failed to revive the company.
The present status of the plant notwithstanding, Fayemi said that the Buhari’s administration was passionate about the completion of the steel project.
He spoke after a fact finding tour of facilities at the company and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe, Kogi State, assuring the public that the Federal Government would soon unveil a comprehensive blueprint for the completion and rehabilitation of the two companies.
He said that the administration was taking a holistic look at the steel plant project to ensure its completion for the benefit of Nigerians.
“I want to let you know that the president is very passionate about the Ajaokuta Steel Company; we will take a look at the company holistically to make it work for the benefits of Nigerians.
“We are looking at the entire steel complex. We are not going to segment the plant. We are told that the captive power plant has been reactivated,’’ Fayemi said.
He said that government’s decision had become imperative due to dwindling fortunes of the oil sector.
According to him, the government will come up with realistic decision that will enable it to turn around as a foundation for future industrialisation of the country.
Fayemi said that government had obtained necessary information about the two companies from relevant stakeholders, noting that the facility tour was to authenticate the information.
The minister said that government was studying the experiences of steel producing countries to chart a way forward on Ajaokuta Steel Company.
“We are studying how these countries succeeded in building several plants many years after we have started our own.
“What did they do right and what we did wrong to find ourselves at the present situation; the plant will work, President Buhati is very passionate about it,’’ he said.
Irrespective of the minister’s speech, Mr Joseph Ononere, the Sole Administrator of Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd., urged the government to call for expression of interest from experts for the rehabilitation, completion and inauguration of the steel plant.
He observed that no significant progress was made to turn around the fortunes of the company since 1994 when the Russians, being the original designers of the plant, pulled out of the project.
He pleaded with the Federal Government to ensure timely completion of the plant, saying that the minister’s visit after few months in office was a clear demonstration of government’s good intention to complete the project.
At Itakpe, NIOMCO Sole Administrator Yau Ibrahim solicited the support of the minister in the completion of some ongoing projects in the complex which he said were critical to the survival of the plant.
He stressed the need for the Federal Government to bring the case involving Ajaokuta Steel Company and NIOMCO at the Industrial Court of Arbitration in London to early conclusion.
He said that iron ore deposit at Itakpe was about 197 million tonnes which he observed would be sufficient to support production of steel at Ajaokuta Steel Company for 35 years.
“Beside the iron ore deposits at Itakpe, there is also iron ore reserve of about 60 million tonnes at Ajabanoko which is only six kilometres away from Itakpe,’’ he said.
Mr Bello Itopa, a representative of the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria, pleaded with the Federal Government to act fast in revamping the company.
He said that no nation could attain economic stability and real industrial and technological advancement without massive investment in the steel sector.
To revamp the company, Mr Sanusi Mohammed, Secretary-General, African Iron and Steel Association, observed that about 1.1 billion dollars would be required.
“If the fund is released, Ajaokuta rehabilitation can be completed within three years including the external infrastructure.
“If 300 million dollars could be released from the amount required, it could be used to rehabilitate part of the company for mini production to begin,’’ he said.
He noted that 43 smaller companies with different areas of specialisation were located in Ajaokuta complex.
“If government can invest 300 million dollars for a start on Ajaokuta Steel Company, at least 25 out the 43 companies will begin operations on materials for producing cars.
“Some will produce railway steel, flat sheet and bitumen, among others. The fund generated by these 25 companies could be used to complete Ajaokuta Steel Company,’’ he said.
He recalled that the challenges facing Nigerian steel companies could be traced to lack of political will and mismanagement by the past administrations.
But Fayemi insisted that the Federal Government would not allow “international conspiracies to hinder the revamping of Ajaokuta and other steel industries in Nigeria.
“I do not want to believe that Ajaokuta cannot be viable if money is spent on it.
“International conspiracy did not stop China from becoming steel giant and India from advancing its steel industry; nothing can stop the revamping of Nigeria steel industries.
“We are the architect of our own misfortune; no international conspiracy can stop a determined nation from realising its visions and objectives’’.
He said the amount quoted to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company was exorbitant that Nigeria would need financial support to be able to produce liquid steel and other steel products.
He also said that if Nigeria began the production of steel, it would reduce foreign exchange being spent on steel importation and also create jobs locally.
He insisted that the president had saddled his ministry with the responsibility of reviving the steel industries in the country.
All in all, industrialists plead with the current administration to incorporate the original designers of the plant in its renewed efforts to revamp the company.
According to them, if the present administration revamps the steel plant, it will boost the country’s revenue.

Adamu writes for News Agency of Nigeria.

 

Sani Adamu

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Eazipay  Offers Zero-Interest Loans To  150,000 SMEs, Employees

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With a mission to ignite growth, encourage business continuity and help businesses and employees thrive, Eazipay is gearing up to propel the dreams of 150,000 SMEs and employees to new heights through her relief fund.
Gone are the days of financial constraints and stifled dreams. With Eazipay’s support, SMEs and employees alike can bid farewell to limitations and embrace a world of endless possibilities.
Whether it’s start up,  business expansion or personal development, Eazipay is here to make dreams come true.
The mind-blowing initiative, which  kicked off this month, would end in December, and will also offer a range of perks and benefits designed to put a smile on the faces of SMEs and employees alike.
From exclusive discounts to various advisory services and beyond, Eazipay is committed to spreading happiness and creating lasting impact in people’s lives and to the growth of businesses.
The technology company which offers products and services that range from payroll management to IT/Device management and assessments, “Eazipay isn’t just providing financial support but also unleashing a wave of growth and prosperity for SMEs and employees across the nation.
“Interested businesses and individuals can take part in this initiative directly from the Eazipay website: www.myeazipay.com”.

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SMEs Critical For Sustainable Dev – Commissioner

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The Commissioner of Finance, Lagos State, Abayomi Oluyomi, has described Small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a critical engine for sustainable development in any economy.
He said this recently at the 10th anniversary of the Alert Group Microfinance Bank and the opening of their new head office in Lagos.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, SMEs accounted for about 50 per cent of Nigeria’s gross.
He commended the positive impact of the Alert MFB as it empowers SMEs in the State.
“Alert MFB in the past 10 years has been at the forefront of empowering SMEs in Lagos State, disbursing over N30bn in loans to over 30,000 individuals having small to medium businesses over that period, which is quite remarkable”, he said.
Speaking, the Group Managing Director of Alert Group, Dr Kazeem Olanrewaju, revealed that the financial institution commenced business in 2013 as a microfinance bank.
“We started this journey in 2013 and it has been expanding. Today, they have about 10 branches across Lagos. They have supported well over 30,000 clients and have disbursed over N30bn.
“The company has been profitable since the second year. Looking at the market and the available opportunity, the Alert MFB board decided to come together to establish a Microfinance Institute (MFI), which is the Auto Bucks Lenders”, Dr. Olanrewaju said.
The GMD further stated that the company was focused more on supporting businesses and small and medium enterprises.
“The loan to support business represents over 98 per cent. The consumer loans you will see are the ones given to entrepreneurs. So, the area of focus of Alert MFB and Auto Bucks Lenders is to support businesses across the country.
“With the establishment of Auto Bucks Lenders, we have the opportunity to also do business outside Lagos. So, presently, we have offices in Ogun State and Oyo State. We intend to go to every part of Nigeria to support what we are doing”, he declared.

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Retailers Explain Price Drop In  Cement Cost

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The cement market, in the last couple of weeks, has seen a significant turnaround with prices tumbling from between N10,000 and N15,000 per 50kg bag to between N7,000 and N8,000.
The sudden rise in the prices of cement and other major building materials in February this year upsets  the construction industry, especially in real estate, where many developers were forced to abandon building sites.
A recent market survey conducted by The Tide’s source in different locations across the country confirmed a price drop, ranging between N7,000 and N7,500 per bag, though BUA cement is selling for N7,500 to N7,800 per 50kg bag, depending on location.
Both entrepreneurs and major distributors who were interviewed,  explained that the price drop is due to low demand and government’s intervention.
At the peak of the price hike, the Federal Government called a meeting with major producers where it was agreed that a bag of cement should be between for N7,000 to N8,000, depending on location.
But the producers did not comply with this agreement immediately, followin which “Nigerians stopped demanding for cement; many project sites were abandoned as developers sat back and waited for the prices to come down.
“So, what has happened is an inter-play of demand and supply with price responding, which is Economics at work”, Collins Okpala, a cement dealer, told the source in Abuja.
In the Nyanya area of the Federal Capital Territory, a 50-kg bag of Dangote cement now sells for between N7,000 and N7,500, while BUA cement sells for between N8,500 and N9,500, down from between N11,000 and N12,000 respectively.
In Lagos, the product has seen significant price drop too. In Ojo area of the state, Sebastin Ovie, a dealer, told our reporter that what has happened is a crash from the January price, attributing the crash to low demand and stronger naira.
“The current price of the product is between N7,000 and N7,500 per 50kg bag, depending on the brand. This is a significant drop from the average of N12,000 which most dealers were selling in February and March”, he said.
A dealer in Agege area of the state who identified himself as Taofik Olateju, told the source that sales are picking up due to the drop in price.
He recalled that Nigerians at a point stopped buying due to the high price of the product at N15,000 per bag.
“I am sure most dealers ran at a loss then because we had mainly old stocks which we wanted to offload quickly”, he said, confirming that the product sells for between N7,500 and N8,000, depending on the brand and the demand for the brand.
Continuing, Olateju noted that “because the naira is now doing well against the dollar, it will be unreasonable for manufacturers to continue to sell the product at the old prices. I also believe that the federal government’s intervention and the threat to license more importers may have worked, leading to the reduction in price”.
In Enugu, the source reports that the product sells for between N7,200 and N7,500 depending on the brand and location.
“This is a city where the price of a 50kg bag went for as high as N12,000 and N13,000 in some cases in February and March”, Samuel Chikwendu said.
He added that the prices of other building materials, especially iron rods, have also dropped considerably which is why, he said, activities are picking up again at construction sites.
The story is slightly different in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, where Innocent Okonkwo told the source that low demand was also driving the price drop, adding that a 50kg bag was selling for N9,000 on the average in the state.
Sundry market observers are optimistic of further price reductions, but they remain cautious as manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers continue to play critical roles in setting prices for end-users.
They lamented, however, that despite Nigeria’s status as one of the largest producers of cement in Africa, the price of the product continues to rise, particularly in the face of high inflation impacting the building materials market generally.
Okpala in Abuja highlighted the variations arising from direct sourcing from manufacturers versus procurement through dealers, with traders holding old stocks selling products at prices ranging from N8,500, N8,300 to N8,000 per bag.
Lucy Nwachukwu, another dealer in Abuja, said the significance of  procurement volume in determining cement costs, noting that stability in prices has been observed over the past month, with the product retailing for between N7,000 and N7,800 depending on the brand.
In Port Harcourt also, a customer, Daniel Etteobong Effiong, said the price goes between N7500 to N8500, depending on the brand and the location one is buying from.

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