For many years now, one of the slogans of government is “diversification of economy.” Yet, Nigeria’s economy has remained monolithic. Experts , analysts and many others have suggested that other windows of economic growth be opened instead of relying solely on oil.
Events in the international oil market in the past few years have further strengthened this argument. Nigeria has no control over oil price and so as the prices of petroleum products keep nosediving, Nigeria’s economy keeps wobbling.
To get out of this quagmire, it’s been severally advised that more efforts be focused on the development of the agricultural sector and  local industries. One man that has heeded this wise advice is Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, through his vibrant promotion of Made-in-Aba products. He has taken this campaign to many places both within and outside the country.
During a visit of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and other dignitaries to Abia State to flag off the maiden Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) clinic in the State,  two trunk boxes filled with ‘Made-in-Aba’ products were presented to the Vice President and the Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah. These boxes contained products like shoes, bags, belts and other quality products all produced at the commercial nerve centre of Abia State.
This great initiative and the associated push has no doubt worn a lot of admiration for the governor.
However, a recent deal between Gov Ikpeazu and a Chinese shoe company to establish a shoe industry in Aba seems not to be widely accepted.
According to a press release by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, a few days ago, during an official visit to China for the first Nigeria-China Governors Investment Forum, Gov Ikpeazu brokered the deal with Mr Zhang Huarong, Group Chairman of Huajian Shoes Industry in Dongguan, Guangzhou, China.
The Abia-Huajian Shoe Industry City which will be located in Aba, will have the capacity to produce 5,000 shoes per day and employ about 10,000 people directly and indirectly. While Abia State Government will be saddled with the responsibility of providing the land and other investment incentives for the project, Huajian Group will fund the entire project.
Whereas it may seem laudable to attract foreign investment of such magnitude into the country, Abia State in particular, attention must be paid to the argument on the authenticity of the investment sum as our leaders have become experts in contract  inflation, budget padding and other such deals to enrich themselves at the expense of the masses. So is the project sum truly $1.5billion or someone, somewhere added jara?.
There is also the issue of sincerity on the part of the Chinese company. Over the years, government at both federal and state levels had enticed Nigerians with similar mouth-watering foreign investment projects that always come with the promise of creating millions of jobs and eradicating poverty in the land. At the end of the day, what do we have? Increased unemployment, ever growing poverty rate.
These foreign companies are not charity organisations. They are out to make money and  records have shown that most times, they exploit Nigerians instead of making life better for the citizens. No skills are transferred to the people and the only jobs they give are that of security men labourers and others in that category.
Perhaps of greater concern is the fate of the small shoe industries in Aba when the Chinese company, eventually comes on board. This company, no doubt, will be coming with all sophisticated equipment. One then wonders how the local shoe manufacturers that rely on scissor and a few machines can compete favourably. What it means invariably is that local manufacturers will be thrown out of business. How do we grow small and medium scale businesses in such manner?
One therefore thinks, that Abia State Government does not necessarily need to bring in a Chinese shoe industry into the shoe making business in the state. The shoe manufacturers in Aba are already producing standard products. What they need is training, conducive business environment and financial support. We all know the stringent conditions under which local manufacturers do business in the country – no power supply, no good road, no water and other facilities. Yet they are able to produce items that meet international standards.
What more when $1.5billion is pumped into the business and all the necessary amenities provided.
The truth is that even if we bring in 10 shoe manufacturing companies into the country without improved power supply and a conducive environment provided, the cost of production will be high and the cost of  their shoes will still be higher  than the ones produced in China where the cost of production is low. In the end, Nigerian importers will still troop to China to import shoes, thereby defeating the aim of bringing the companies into the country.
So, it’s high time we became more passionate about buy Naija, grow Naija, campaign. Government should make policies and take actions that will stimulate local production instead of discouraging the local industries. That is the only way our economy can grow, jobs will be created and poverty level will reduce.

Calista Ezeaku