Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna, Tuesday said for a nation to develop industrially, it must be able to manufacture machines and tools.
He said this in Abuja at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NASENI and the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), Jos.
He said the partnership would help equip industries in Nigeria with tools, machines and spare parts to enhance development.
“Processing metals and iron to produce tools and machines is a must. No nation can have industrial development if it cannot fabricate tools and machines.
“And it’s not possible to do so until a nation appropriately develops and processes the God-given mineral resources. If we don’t do this, we’ll only continue to be importers of other people’s products.
“For NASENI to partner with NMDC and all together to help us contribute our quarter to the revival and development of iron and steel industry in Nigeria, particularly our ambition to participate around some aspects of Ajaokuta Steel Company is a thing of joy and the beginning of transformation, which is the beginning of actually equipping the industries in Nigeria with tools, machines and spare parts.
“Most industries are not operational because they import everything,” he said.
Director-General, NMDC, Prof. Linus Asuquo, said with the MOU, Nigeria would be on the right pedestal to compete favorably with the developed economies in the world.
Asuquo said NMDC was committed to the full implementation of the agreement.
