FG approves establishment of transformer assembly plant in Nigeria

The head of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure stated this.

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) said the Federal Government has approved the establishment of a local transformer assembly plant, to address the nation’s epileptic power supply.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the agency, Mohammed Haruna, announced this on Monday while addressing newsmen at the on-going 8th Abuja International Trade Fair.

Mr. Haruna said President Goodluck Jonathan gave the directive as part of efforts by the current administration to create more jobs and reduce capital flight.

According to him, the president’s desire is to focus on renewable source of power supply with emphasis on small hydro sources of power supply.

He said NASENI had developed local capacity for the production of Small Hydro Power Turbines.

“A small hydro power turbine has been successfully designed, fabricated and installed and is currently waiting commissioning at Ikeji-Ile, Ijesha, Osun State,” he said.

He said the participation of NASENI in the fair was due to the success recorded by the agency during previous exhibitions.

The official said the products displayed by the agency during the previous exhibitions had great impact on buyers as they were purchased out rightly. He said the involvement of the agency in the fair was to expose its products and services to entrepreneurs in line with its mandate.

He said the mandate of the agency was to develop relevant technology and infrastructure and transfer the technical know-how to the entrepreneurs, captains of industry, foreign trade missions and emissaries.

The NASENI boss said the agency had also concentrated on the development of local mineral resources available to enhance the growth of the economy.

According to him, the agency is collaborating with the Raw Material Research and Development Council to harness and put into optimal use the natural resources in the country.

He, however, said the agency faced the challenge of how to link up with entrepreneur, adding that Nigerian business owners were wary of innovations and careful at taking risk.

Mr. Haruna also decried the inadequate funding and budget regime, which he said had not encouraged research works.

According to him, the agency is counting on potential foreign investors to key into the dreams of the agency.

Earlier, the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Kamila Maliki, expressed concern over the number of engineering graduates Nigeria universities turned out annually without jobs.

Mr. Maliki said if the graduates were incorporated into the agenda of NASENI, it would go a long way to enhance infrastructure development.

“It is a great concern to all engineers that as huge as the number of engineering graduates and engineering practitioners we have in this country, we are still not able to boast of sound engineering infrastructure.

“It is important to work together with NASENI to help to revive the prosperity and the future of this country; we must discourage reliance on imported goods and be able to produce what we use in this country.

“COREN and NASENI must be encouraged to work together, especially in the area of development of engineering infrastructure,” he said.

(NAN)