The Federal Government has expressed concern over the importation of metal products.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Abdukadir Muazu, who spoke at a workshop organized for stakeholders in Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States, held at Jos, said that the situation had led to major drain on the nation’s foreign exchange . Dr Muazu said that the quantity of metal products made in Nigeria cannot meet the demand in the country while imported products are also in higher demand in Nigeria due to the fact that they are cheaper.
He added that this trend has several negative implications which include overwhelming poverty due to folding up of Small Medium Enterprises noting that it is against the backdrop of this and the need to change the narrative that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development organized the workshop.
Dr Muazu, who was represented by the Director of Steel, Mr. Kolawale Olasupo, said that the aim of the workshop was to sensitize the Small Medium Enterprises in the metal industry in Nigeria on their importance in the sector and the role the government is expected to play to help them develop their business.
He stressed that the efforts were geared towards making their products to compete favourably with imported products.
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