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Michelin has closed its
manufacturing shop in Nigeria
and this is on authority. A
release circulated by its
management to affected workers
earlier in the year said that
Michelin would close down for
"strategic reasons". this was
not defined, but the workers
think it is due to the incessant
power outages which the
manufacturing sector in Nigeria
has had to grapple with.
However, critics refuse to
accept this reason for
Michelin's drastic decision to
leave Nigeria. The argument is
that any investor in Nigeria,
who wants the economy to grow
should be able to weather the
storm with the Nation. Others
say Nigeria's population of
about 140 million people is an
advantage to investors despite
its energy problems. The
National President of Footwear,
Leather and Rubber Products
Union, Comrade Kayode Oladimeji
in an interview he granted a
national daily said, “Michelin
is a French company, and the
French are not used to
developing countries outside
their territory.” That is why
they have been looking for an
opportunity to get out of our
economy. Now Nigeria must not
suffer for lack of Michelin
tyres. |
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Oladimeji further emphasized
that Michelin has a very large
rubber plantation in Nigeria and
Michelin alone cannot consume
the huge raw materials from the
plantation.
The
scenario, according to Oladimeji,
is that more tyres will be
produced which will be useful to
their industry in France and
other parts of the world. “The
plan is to use Nigeria as a
farm, where raw materials are
extracted to feed factories in
Europe and other Western
countries, to the detriment of
our economy. The implication of
this is that Nigeria will
eventually become their dumping
ground.
How does Michelin's exit affect
Dunlop Nigeria Plc, a tyre
manufacturing company? One would
expect this scenario to be at
Dunlop's advantage, but
Oladimeji does not think so.
“Prior to Michelin's plan to
shut down, Michelin and Dunlop
both produced 60% of the tyres
used in Nigeria. Michelin has
gone, only Dunlop will be
producing tyres in the country.
This means that soon there would
be a shortfall of locally
manufactured tyres and Dunlop
must be encouraged to meet the
demand for the product in a huge
country like Nigeria.
There must be legislation to
protect companies and workers in
Nigeria. Michelin has left over
1300 workers in the lurch, some
with 30 year or half a life time
service with the company. Really
will the French view this
situation kindly if the table
were reversed?
The Minister for Commerce and
Industry must take a closer look
at this issue. He should know.
He is a manufacturer. Should
Nigeria be further reduced to
consumption when it can produce?
Is Michelin's Exit a great
business strategy to the company
and a tragedy to Nigerian
workers?
Every country has a duty to
protect its citizenry from
brazen Economic banditry. Every
company must show some measure
of responsibility to its host
community. Michelin's exit may
be for the fudicial interest of
the outfit. Likewise, the
government must show some
measure of responsibility to the
people and companies like
Dunlop. These companies have
kept faith with the country.
Government must cut down the
numerous taxes for them.
Companies that keep Nigerians at
work must be kept working.
Think! |
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