NCDMB boss, Wabote hails steel firm over use of local contents

Forum 1 year ago

NCDMB boss, Wabote hails steel firm over use of local contents

ABUJA – THE Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has hailed a subsidiary of Orbit Galvanized Steel Industries Limited, a subsidiary of the African Industries Group, AIG, over boost on local content production to save capital flight and jobs.

Wabote who was on tour of Orbit Galvanized Steel Industries Limited facilities, products, and production process alongside representatives of International Oil Companies (IOCs) and their service counterparts, where he described AIG as one stop shop service providers in different sectors of the economy.

He also commended AIG for boosting capacity of Nigerians to provide products and services in several sectors of the economy including mining, energy, agriculture with various steel products.

He said: “African industries built their capacity for service in areas they have seen that are lacking in Nigeria. Somewhere along the line, they have seen there are opportunities and are building capacities to manufacture and supply structures for many industries including oil and gas sector. That is why they have invited us to come see the capacity they have established.

“I also was told they generate electricity on their own. This is to tell you that these facilities do not need generator to get their galvanizing plants to work.”

Meanwhile, the NCDMB boss assured the Board’s support to upscale production of the company on the heels of its proposed fabrication yard and to ensure it is patronised when completed.

He added that with what he has seen at the company there is no doubt that it can meet the required technical standards in the oil and gas industry including other sectors of the economy.

“I see a great potential in Orbit Galvanized Steel. We must work together to bring it up to the standard.

“All that is needed is a little bit of nudge and bit of push for us to get to where we want to get to. This is not different from some factories I have visited in Korea”, he said.

Earlier in am address of welcome, the Director, African Industries Group, Uche Iwuamadi, said AIG is the only Integrated Towers Manufacturing Company in Nigeria.

Iwuamadi appreciated the NCDMB boss and his IOC team for visiting the facility and assured him (Wabote), the IOC team and other representatives that the company remains committed to complying to best international practices and standards in manufacturing its products.

According to him, the company has capacity inhouse for end-to-end process right from iron ore mining to casting of billets to fabrication and galvanizing, and also has the capacity and expertise to manufacture and supply transmission line towers, substation structures, telecom/microwave towers, solar module mounting structures, railway structures along with structures for oil and gas sector.

He also said the galvanizing facility of the company has a production capacity of about 36,000 metric tonnes per annum.

Meanwhile, he made it known that the company’s steel products like hot rolled steel angles, channels, beams, rebars, Z and C purlins, ERW steel pipes, and steel chequered plates are all generated from local content.

“We are proud to have utilised local content to manufacture all that we have here and contribute to human capital development, employment and the economy of Nigeria,” he said.