The neglect of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill and Nigerian Machine Tool Company which are located adjacent to each other along Ikirun Road in Osogbo, the Osun State capital calls for urgent concern.
Both federal government projects came into existence On April 30,1983.
It was learned that shortly after the establishment, the government and the builders signed an agreement on how to train workers who would later take over the daily operations of the mill.
The steel rolling mill has a complex and housing facilities for select workers employed to work there.
It was gathered that both could employ over 20,000 workers if properly managed, and thereby offer the nation a great relief.
However, Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill has been abandoned, and the company has become a save heaven for criminals, which also harbours reptiles, thus defeating the purpose of establishing the companies, which was mainly to produce steel and rods.
This problem was caused by privatisation and sale of the companies to individuals, who failed to properly manage them properly.
A visit to the site of the Steel Rolling Mill showed that the place has been overgrown with weeds while no human being was found at the area. The entrance gate was under lock and key .
However, the story is different at the Nigerian Machine Tool Company, where three gatemen were met on duty who said there was a meeting going on by the managing Director and some departmental heads with officials from Abuja.
One of the securitymen who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the Nigerian Machine Tool Company has been working since it was privatised.
He said “We deal with steel, repairing of machines for companies, and also also sew Army uniform among other things being carried out by the company.
“The abandonment of these companies has resulted to loss of employment for thousands of people of Osun State and it has deprived the state government of revenue generation from the companies and employees. It has also deprived Nigeria of production industries to create employment for the people.
“Some of the major problems being faced in Nigeria today are unemployment, high rate of poverty and others.”
Noting that privatising the company has not helped in the growth of the company, he called on the Federal Government to revisit the privatisation processes and see the best way to revive the ailing companies that were reportedly sold to private individuals.
He said: “We who are working here are not well paid simply because it is in the hands of private persons. But if government is sincere to take it over and manage it properly, it will be better for us and also encourage more employment opportunities for jobless youths.”
It will be recalled that the House of Representatives has called for the review of the privatisation of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill and the Nigerian Machine Tools Company.
Both companies which were national assets were sold to private investors by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo through the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), chaired by the former Vice-President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during the tenure of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyiniola of Osun State.
Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill has remained moribund while the Nigerian Machine Tools Company has continued to render skeletal services to the people .
It was learned that the neglect of both companies has caused a serious negative effect on the people and the economy of the state and the nation in general, hence there is urgent need to review the sale of these companies.
Mr Akeem who is mechanic close to the Steel Rolling Mill said the company “has been abandoned over 15 years and the place is overgrown by weeds and as I speak with you, most of the machines, equipment the company were using before it went moribund are still inside the place already overgrown by weeds.”
According to him, the moribund company was recently visited by the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to access the situation with a view to finding solution and possibly revive it.
His words: “This place has long been abandoned during the administration of the then Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Osun State and federal administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The companies, especially the Steel Rolling Mill, would have employed employed many jobless youths in our community.”
Akeem blamed privatisation as reason the company died. But he suggested that if the Federal Government is ready to resurrect it, it must first review the privatisation processes and ensure that the ailing companies are brought back to life.
He decried what he described as arbitrary privatisation of public assets, noting that most of the companies that were privatised have fallen into ruins.
Also speaking, Jimoh Akanbi hinted that the abandonment of those companies has resulted to loss of employment for thousands of people of Osun.
He said It has deprived the government of Osun revenue generation from the companies and employees. It has also deprived Nigeria of production industries to create employment for the people.
His words “The major problems we are facing in Nigeria today are unemployment, high rate of poverty and others.
“The perplexing questions being asked are: Has privatization of these companies helped in any way in solving the unemployment problems bedevilling the state? Has privatisation in any way met the aspirations of many in the community and the entire state? Have the private individuals who bought the companies been able to meet the conditions and terms of reference? if the answers are no, therefore there is an urgent need to review the privatisation
It was learnt that the 10th House of Representatives’ Committees on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Industry and Steel have set up a committee to probe the events surrounding the abandonment of the Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill and Nigeria Machine Tools.
The committee was reportedly mandated to submit its report within a four-week timeframe to for further legislative action just as the House urged the Bureau of Public Enterprises to embark on regular inspection and monitoring of government-owned enterprises acquired by investors including Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill.
While many are hoping for an effective intervention by the Federal Government in reviving ailing companies all over the country, residents in Our generally believe that the revival of the company will solve the problem of youth unemployment and boost revenue generation at both the state and federal levels.
