FG stops importation of sugar and cement

The construction sector of the Nigerian economy has received a boost as the Federal Government rolls out policies aimed at making cement available at affordable prices, starting from January 2013.

In this regard, the Federal Government said importation of cement has been banned with a view to promoting local production.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the policy, which entailed stoppage of cement importation as well as the rolling out of a new set of policies that would force down the prices of cement in the country, would be in place in 2013.

According to him, the move was necessitated by the determination of President Goodluck Jonathan to make Nigeria one of the leading cement exporting countries next year.

The minister, who explained that paper work on the policy had been finalised, said the present administration would ensure that the patronage of local goods is followed by Nigerians as from 2013.

He added that the slogan; “Buy Naija, create more jobs” embarked upon by his ministry would not only be boosted next year, but also be sustained to improve the nation’s economy through jobs creation and increased wealth for Nigerians.

Aganga said one of the aims of the ministry was to promote the patronage of local products with a view to promoting economic growth, creating more jobs and generating wealth for the populace.

His words: “To achieve this, what we need is adequate information to develop ideas for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), trade, industrialisation and fostering of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

“For any company to survive, it needs strong values, team work like the one we do in this ministry. Team work is necessary to help each other succeed, especially among our parastatals and agencies,” he stressed.

The minister also disclosed that the government of Qatar had given commitment to invest $390million in Nigeria’s transport sector with a view to helping improve on the country’s infrastructure next year.

Aganga said the two countries have concluded arrangement to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the new investment, which he said would further create thousands of jobs for the nation’s teeming youths.