Revamping Moribund Industries In Enugu State

One way towards a sustainable economic development, especially among the third-world countries, lies not only in the sprouting and establishments of industries, but in their maintenance culture.

A number of productive industries in our country, and in particular, Enugu State, that were providing sustainable sources of livelihood and contributing to the nation’s economic development had crippled for lack of maintenance.

This ugly trend is worsened by the indifference of our governments at all levels towards reviving these industries.

In Enugu State, just like in other states, many industries that would have provided sources of livelihood to the youths have been left moribund, thus giving rise to unemployment and the attendant crimes.

One of such establishments is the Scientific Equipment Development Institute, Enugu. It is a national institute with branches across the federation.

The institute was primarily established to conduct research, develop and popularize such findings to foster equipment and materials used in schools, hospitals, manufacturing industries and the rest. Unfortunately, the institute has been left to die.

The Anambra Vegetable Oil Processing, popularly known as AVOP, located at the present Nachi in Udi Local Government Area, is another company that needs urgent interventions from the government. The company (an inheritance from the defunct old Anambra State) was formerly a household name in Nigeria. Apart from meeting the consumption needs of the people, the company employed many youths, thereby arresting youth restiveness and idleness ochestrated by unemployment.

The company could be repositioned and refurbished for maximal operations if our government makes it a priority. This would improve the standards of living of our people and invariably enhance the productivity and economic status of our state.

The Sunrise Flour Mills established by the Enugu State government in 1983 shares a similar fate. Created primarily for the production of semolina, wheat and others, this company has been shutdown by lack of proper attention and maintenance from the government, despite successive promises to revamp it. This is a company that would have otherwise engaged a substantial number of youths meaningfully.

The Aluminum Production Company, located at Ohebe-Dim in Igbo Etiti LGA of the state, is another industry that is worthy of mention. The company, hitherto, provided employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labourers. But alas, many of these people are today being retrenched because of the non-optimal operations of the company!

One way to stop the ugly trend is by involving the private sector in their management. A leaf should be borrowed from the Emenite Group of Companies, an asbestos company located at Emene, Enugu. This company is still at its peak of production, notwithstanding the decades of operations simply because the government partnered both local and foreign agents.

The likes of Nigergas Company Ltd, Premier Cashew Industries Ltd, Oghe; Nigersteel Industries Ltd, Emene; Livestock Feedmill, Ngwo, and a whole lots of other Industries in the state need to be revamped to meet the ever-rising needs and provide sustainable opportunities for the citizens of our dear state, Enugu.

There is therefore a clarion on the incoming administrations to take the matter of industrialization seriously and also consolidate on many strides taken by the present administration in those regards.