Nigeria is to begin the production of heavy equipment as well as spare parts before the end of 2012, according to Dr Mohammed Haruna, Acting Director General, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

Speaking in Abuja, Haruna said that the facility would be cited in Bauchi as the state government had already ceded the old Steyr manufacturing facility to NASENI for immediate take off of production.

He said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved for heavy equipment fabrication and spare parts production in Bauchi but due to paucity of funds, the take off of the institution had been hampered.

``We are glad to announce that the current governor of Bauchi State has graciously donated to the Agency the production facilities, workshops and with additional funding support for the institute.

``By the grace of God it should take off in 2012, we have represented this issue before the ministry for onward presentation to the federal executive council.

``The idea of citing it in Bauchi was to support the military in manufacturing of heavy equipment and components, spare parts for their amour and equipment and at the same time, produce equipment and component that will reduce importation.

``All is set, we are waiting for the formal approval.

He said the facility would also facilitate the industrial development of the North-Eastern part of Nigeria in particular and the nation at large.

The Steyr Manufacturing Facility is located in Bauchi and was used for assembly of motor vehicles, agricultural tractors, trucks, buses and motorcycles.

However, the company had not been functional for a while even as the then Chairman, Bello Kirfi says about N500 million is required for the upgrading of the motor assembly plant.

Haruna said that the transfer of technical know-how, technology skill acquisition and capacity building agreement was recently signed with the Bauchi state government.

The agreement also included resuscitating the near moribund Heavy Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (HEMEDI) located in Bauchi by the Federal Government since 2004 but yet to take off.

HEMEDI was conceived by the Federal Government to provide research and development (R&) support and manufacturing of heavy equipment components for railway operations.

The company was as well to support agro-allied equipment such as tractors and spare parts: generally the Institute was established to aid the survival of Nigeria's heavy equipment industry.

The areas of collaborations would also include: foundry technology, energy, science kits production, glassware/wood technology, computer aided design/manufacturing.

Also electrical equipment and power management, electrical/electronics, advanced materials including nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing technology (AMT).

According to the MoU, the Bauchi State Government shall provide project sites, infrastructure, utilities, funding for technology business development activities, enabling environment for commercial activities.

According to him, NASENI on its part is to provide proactive advice on development of engineering infrastructure and renewable energy as well as counterpart technical team during plants installation and test running.

The Agency is also to assist in upgrading and refurbishment of secondary, technical and skill acquisition institutions in the State.

In his remark at the MoU signing, Haruna called on Nigerians especially the private sectors to collaborate with the agency to ensure that the opportunities available in the Agency were well utilised for the development of the nation's economy.

" This agreement will further ensure that the Institute would be commissioned, while full activities for which the institute was approved by the Federal Government since 2004 will start soon," said Haruna.

While emphasising the need for other state governments to support and patronise locally made products, NASENI boss said that Nigeria's economic development was strongly hinged on local patronage of science and technology.

"Unless Nigerians patronise goods and services made in the country as well as invest in the development of science and technology, the ambition of Nigeria to be one of top 20 economies by year 2020 will remain a mere dream.

SOURCE; BUSINESSDAY ONLINE