Ban on cement imports underway, cassava to replace wheat
From Hendrix Oliomogbe (Benin) and Segun Ayeoyenikan (Abuja)
APPARENTLY to encourage local production of cement, the Federal Government intends to totally ban the importation of the product into the country soon.
Also, a law is underway that will ensure that the 10 per cent ban on imported wheat into the country as from January 1, 2005 gets a legal backing. The order is to encourage the use of cassava in place of wheat in the production of bread and other confectioneries.
Minister of Industries, Alhaji Mogaji Mohammed disclosed at Okpella, Edo S that the decision was base on Federal Government's determination to ensure that the nation is self sufficient in the production of cement.
The minister, who was on a working visit to Okpella, the site of the former Bendel Cement Company commended the new core investors, Scaccem of Norway on the equipment and renovation work which the new owner is currently carrying out.
In April, the Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion commissioned the first phase of renovation work at the cement company. Now, imported bulk cement is being re-bagged at the company.
However, the Industries minister would want Scancem and other cement companies to accelerate efforts at local production of cement instead of simply being contented with bagging. He stressed that there is an urgent need for the nation's numerous cement factories to provide adequate machinery that would be used for the production of cement.
Mohammed explained that the importation of goods, which could be locally produced in the country had led to the flooding of unwanted and substandard products into the country. Such a situation, he said, had scared away potential investors thereby leading to mass unemployment.
He promised to visit all the cement companies in the country to ascertain their capacity and verify if their production level would be able to meet local demand.
Edo State Deputy-Governor, Chief Michael Oghiadomhe, who accompanied the minister remarked that the state government is determined to ensure full production by the company. He added that the seriousness of the administration led to it's privatisation as the first industry to be sold out.
Oghiadomhe pointed out that the choice of Scancem as the core investor was based on the company's competence. "Our determination is to produce our own cement rather than importation, so that our full potentials can be harnessed," he said.
On the planned ban on wheat imports, which would be replaced by cassava flour in the production of bread, the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun said the Justice Minister, Akintolu Olujinmi (SAN) is to chair the draft bill committee on the issue.
He added that the committee will also include members of the National Assembly, the Director General, Federal Institute for Industrial Research (FIIRO), and representatives of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON). Others are representatives of flour millers, masterbakers, Cassava Growers Association and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Isoun disclosed in Abuja yesterday that the move was to create a ready market for large produce of cassava expected in the country this year.
The minister explained that the committee's report was expected to be presented to Federal Executive Council (SEC), first as a memorandum, for consideration latest by the end of August 2004.
In March this year, President Olusegun Obasanjo after his visit to FIIRO where he was conducted round some composite bread and other confectioneries baked with 10 per cent cassava flour as a replacement of wheat flour directed that a meeting of all stakeholders in flour milling, bakery, cassava growing and relevant research institutes be held.
The minister also disclosed that his ministry and other relevant institutes have been directed to demonstrate the production of the composite cassava wheat flour bread in every state capital in the presence of the respective state governors and other stakeholders.
