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By Lanre Olabisi
In order to encourage patronage of locally made trailer tankers, the national Body of Trailer and Steel Construction Builders Association of Nigeria have appealed to the Federal Government to place a complete ban on the importation of trailer tankers for petroleum products in the country.
The appeal was made in a communiqué issued at the end of the 2016 Annual Congress of the association held at their national secretariat, along Lagos/Ibadan expressway, Ibadan.
While addressing newsmen after the congress, the association’s Chairman, Alhaji Kasali Yusuf (Kasco) noted that it is imperative for the Federal Government to see to the welfare of local manufacturers, especially, steel and metal construction sector and encourage the growth of indigenous products.
He disclosed that the only way government can encourage the patronage of their products is to place a complete ban on the imported products which is striving at the expense of the locally made ones.
According to Alhaji Yusuf, “the steel and metal construction sector in Nigeria started as blacksmith and iron bending in the early ages has come of age, with people in this sector under the auspice of Trailer and Steel Construction Builders Association of Nigeria using their ingenuity to come up with good products that meet the needs of Nigerians.
“We want to use this medium to call on Federal Government to save the steel and metal sector by placing ban on the imported products that we produce locally in the country, as the association members have proven our competence and good standard of our products consistently over many decade.”
Alhaji Yusuf urged President Muhammadu Buhari to revive steel manufacturing companies in the country including the Ajaokuta Steel Company, which was Nigeria’s leading steel company and supplier of quality steel products in order to ensure purchase of raw materials for construction at cheaper rate.
While speaking on the benefit attached to the step if taken, Alhaji (Dr.) Muritala Adesola, who is the national Treasurer of the association, expressed that there will be improved on the stance of the country’s economy, increase in the rate of employment generation as well as creating healthy rivalry among local manufacturers.
Alhaji Adesola explained that in order to ensure their products are up to standard, members have embarked on research to find way forward in producing products that can stand a test of time since 2013.
He boasted that members of the association are capable of constructing trailer tankers for petroleum products including 66,000 liters tankers, sided body trailers for haulage, low-bed trailers and silos for storage of agricultural and industrial use that meet up global standard with certification from the regulatory bodies and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.
