Oil has been the backbone of our nation’s economy since its discovery and exportation in the late 50s (discovered in ’56 and first exported in ’58, check your history). Recently other industries have sprung up putting our nation on the map beyond just oil and kidnapping… and militancy… and a failed underpants bomber. The Nigerian movie industry known as Nollywood (a name I dread) has for the past decade or so presented a somewhat decent image of our nation… as decent as Nigerian standards go. There’s the ever growing music industry, which if I had my way I’d be a part of, if I can just be serious enough and pay for studio time, but that’s beside the point. The aforementioned “industries” are fine and great, but nothing sustains Nigeria quite like the Petroleum sector, which begs the question what happens if it becomes less viable. Like if the U.S government being the super-power that they are decided they want to manufacture electric cars (highly unlikely, but still), thus rendering us and Saudi Arabia- two of their biggest oil partners -useless. At least the Arab nations will corner Asia faster than we can learn Chinese, so where does that leave us?
The point of any industry in Nigeria right now in my opinion is to get ready to take over and be the next leading sector of our economy. Unfortunately not everybody thinks like me. No sector seems close to take over from our dear Petroleum. What about the people (deceiving people) industry a.k.a politics? No, that’s how we got into most of this mess in the first place. That and the fact that, its funding (salaries, largess, prostitute mistress money and such) relies heavily on what we make from oil. Again, petroleum saves the day (no wonder the militants love it). Perhaps the textile industry? Dead! Tourism? To be kidnapped by militants? No! Nollywood and the music industry? Mostly self-serving, not to mention lack of quality on Nollywood’s part. Sports? Well not after Amos Adamu and his FIFA fiasco!
Forgot finding the next big industry, what about reducing our incessant need for imported goods? Did the Buy Nigeria campaign just die, like we’re waiting for Rebrand Nigeria to? Or were our ladies to busy buying Manolo Blahniks and Christian Louboutins to notice (before you question my sexuality, I had to consult google on the spelling of those). But to be fair to Rebrand Nigeria, it was dead from the inception, it won’t even get to rise like the phoenix. What Nigeria needs is restructuring, less rebranding. We’re already damaged. And now word is Aunty Dora wants us to stopping calling Nigeria, Naija, as if that’s not a derivative of Lady Shaw’s christening.
So just for fun I decided to list some key industries and see how viable they are in being our economy’s next source of income, not that they’re even close, but still. These are my assessments of course; feel free to let me know yours. So here we go:
FOOD STUFFS/DRINKS: Well with the likes of Dangote, Chivita and Indomie (though foreign, but made in Naija), I’ll give this sector 8/10. The only problem here is we still import things we can grow like rice.
Possible measure: Ban the importation of rice.
Disadvantage: Putting importers and certain people out of business, which I’d hate to see happen. Things are bad enough as it is.
READY-MADE CLOTHES & TEXTILES: Once upon a time there was once a great textile industry in this nation. There still is… in Aba, but mostly ready-made, not textile. Nigerians do make their own clothes, we just often don’t brand as much. The truth is not everybody can brand agbada and kaftan and charge a stupendous amount because there’s a tag on it. Are you mad? I’ll just go find another tailor, preferably one who lives under a Dollar a day.
Assessment : 5/10.
Possible measure: All these new kids who love to rebrand their t-shirts with Naija slogans or rather the people who do it for them, should think of approaching local football teams to have their jerseys branded (just remember na me come up with the idea first, I deserve one free jersey o!). You will make money… providing the football teams have money to spend.
LEATHER GOODS:
Assessment: 1/10. The 1 is for Pomo, which Baba Shege likes.
WOOD PRODUCTS: Yes we have carpenters, but there isn’t much of a wood industry per se. We’d rather buy imported wardrobes, than have them built if we can afford it.
Possible measure: Destroy all gas cookers. Are they made here?
Disadvantage: The hunger rate will rise.
Assessment: 3/10
PAPER & PAPER PRODUCTS, PRINTING AND PUBLISHING: Here is a sector I think we do quite well in. I remember reading that back in the days some Nigerian newspapers were printed abroad in England and brought back into the country the following day. Gone are those days. Plus you’d be crazy to try that these days unless half your publication is based abroad.
Assessment: 7/10
Possible measure: All this sector needs when it comes to newspapers is more factual stories than speculation. Today Jonathan dumps Sambo, tomorrow he’s fighting King Kong in the jungles of South America. And publishing houses need to start publishing our authors, that’s one industry that needs growth.
Disadvantage: No one is publishing books on a grand scale.
CHEMICAL INDISTRIES (PETRO-CHEMICALS, RUBBER & PLASTICS): I believe we do well here too considering we produce a lot of plastic goods from buckets to plastic water bottles (we need to find an efficient way of recycling the latter) to the fact that in the past people were able to get their hands on acid… that last one should not be funny!
Assessment: 6/10
CHINA, EARTHENWARE, POTTERY, PORCELAIN AND GLASS: Er… while I believe all these things can and are being made in Nigeria, especially Pottery (shouts out to my people in Niger State. Our basketball team is called the Niger Potters… screw the boy wizard). The question is: is there much of an industry to any of them?
Assessment: 4/10
BUILDING MATERIALS: We produce Julius Berger, Dantata & Sawoe… Okay, I kid. Julius Berger is German and Dantata & Sawoe are our own (let me find out they’re from Cameroun). But seriously as far as actual building material, we produce cement bags (with the cement inside of course… not at the same time) bricks and other such primary building materials. What I’m not sure we produce and I doubt we do are the machines used in the day to day operations of building. I mean Ajekouta isn’t running, so that should tell you something about us (n)ever building machines.
Assessment: 8/10
METAL INDUSTRIES: Again, Ajekouta isn’t running.
Assessment: 1/10
Possible measure: Stop the politicking and bring back Ajekouta.
Disadvantage: How can there be a disadvantage to this?
What industry do you think I forgot (don’t mention Nollywood) and do you agree with my assessment? Not that I will lose any sleep if you disagree, but let me know. Peace!
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