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Nigeria imports 80% of polymers — PIN

By on October 20, 2014

About 80 per cent of the various polymers used in the country are imported, first President, Polymer Institute of Nigeria, Chief Kunle Ogunade, has said.

Ogunade, who stressed the need to develop this industry in the country, said this during the silver jubilee celebration and annual technical conference of the institute in Lagos on Wednesday.

He said, “About 80 per cent of our various polymers are imported. We must pressurise our government to build more refineries to make these necessary materials available in the country.”

He also spoke on the need for the government to preserve funds in the country by maximising local polymer experts instead of looking abroad for such services that can be rendered within.

Similarly, the National President, PIN, Dr. Joseph Imanah, said government needs to create a more conducive business environment for the polymer industry to strive.

He said, “The problem of the polymer industry is raw material and energy. Most firms producing use generators which raises cost of production. Added to it is the cost of raw material which is imported. We call on government to help to address these challenges.”

Imanah said the theme of its annual technical conference and annual general meeting is polymer industry and national economic transformation.

He noted that PIN comprises of polymer experts that cut across polymer scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians and entrepreneurs who promote, advance and develop the application of polymer science, engineering and technology, polymer and allied industries in Nigeria and elsewhere in the globe.

Imanah said the institute creates fora for members to share and advance the practice of polymer science, engineering and technology both within Nigeria and elsewhere in the world that meet international standards.

Part of the activities of the institute, he said, include sponsoring Oluwo award competition among polymer students in tertiary institutions, annual publication of the institute’s journal and annual N1m institutional award competition for tertiary institutions and polymer related research institutes in polymer, which is also in collaboration with Raw Materials Research and Development Council.

He disclosed that there was an on-going compilation and updating of directory of polymer industries and allied researches, which are currently going on in research institute and tertiary institutions in Nigeria in collaboration with RMRDC.

The PIN boss said the institute was making efforts to become chartered and a full fledge regulatory body under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“We shall also be affiliated to other international bodies where we can host international conferences with our members accessing recent discoveries, innovations and resources in polymers from all over the world,” he added.

The PIN boss who observed that many firms were dying in the country said this should not be the case.

While making a comparism, he said India has over 500,000 plastic making firms while Nigeria has less than 500 of such firms currently.

He urged upcoming polymer experts in the country to belong to professional bodies like PIN.

 

[Punch]