🟢Story Of Some Abandoned Projects That Are Important In Nigeria, From Abacha’s Regime Till Date.
Nigerians are calling on the All Progressives Congress led government under President Bola Tinubu GCFR to as a matter of importance kindly take a swift action to revamp most important sectors like, Textile, Steel, Agro, Hydo, Oil, Energy, Refineries to mention but a few, to grow the economy to an enviable scorecard.
Recall that several administrations no doubt failed in this direction and such inabilities in the governance system have brought the decadence and high unemployment rates the present APC government is facing across the country as 9News Nigeria reports.
Research has it that the employment rate will automatically increase and crime rate will decrease, once these sectors becoming functional and productive.
The saying that “Soldier come and Soldier go but Barracks will remain” is deeply applicable to this story as compiled by yours Princely Onyenwe and brought to our reading audience.
This story will also help in reshaping the Tinubu’s led administration to deal with important policies captured in his government blue print.
Same is applicable to all the states Governors across the geopolitical zones to take needed actions to improve developmental projects at respective states.
There is also emergency need for the leading All Progressives Congress administration to revisit those abandoned projects that can develop Nigeria and immediately put such to work.
In the foregoing, I noted with concern alot of numerous promises by government that are still yet- to -be put to work till date. These would-be Projects are scattered in all the states of the Federation as researched by me.
Meanwhile, the first Nigerian car project that was introduced to the then Abacha’s government by Engineer Ezekiel Izuogu could not fly.
Also several Student researchers have produced alot of latest discoveries at various states but non of it was empowered.
Students are demoralized by the state of unemployment and empowerment in the country. And also, the artisans are being overlooked and in most cases being underfunded to establish their locally made products.
In furtherance to the ongoing, production companies are faced with insecurity, low patronage and high taxes imposed by government.
The Izuogu Z-600 prototype was the first indigenous Nigerian car. It is also the first automobile of indigenous all-African technology. It was launched in 1997 and caused a media frenzy then.
Engineer Ezekiel Izuogu, the maker of Nigeria’s first car. He was an inventor and politician. He lost the 1999 Imo State governorship election to Achike Udenwa. Izuogu was the inventor of Nigeria’s first indigenous car, Z 600.
The then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, set up a 12 man to ascertain the roadworthiness and authenticity of the car. The committee later gave Dr Izuogu’s car a clean bill of health.
Abacha, represented by the Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen Oladipo Diya, unveiled the car at a well-organised ceremony. The event had over 20 foreign ambassadors. The government promised a grant of N235 million to Dr Izuogu.
The promise was never redeemed and support from the government never came. Instead, there was widespread vicious criticism of the car by Nigerians, especially in the media. In 2005, the Z-600 started getting interests from other African countries.
In 2006, the South African government expressed keen interest in the car. They wanted Izuogu to build it in South Africa. They invited him to set up a plant in South Africa and begin the mass production of the car.
Izuogu reluctantly agreed. According to him, he didn’t like the idea that Nigerians will not benefit from the employment the project will generate.
However, on Saturday, March 11 2006, no fewer than 12 heavily armed men broke into Dr. Izuogu’s factory in Naze in Imo State.
The men carted away various machines and tools including the design history notebook of Z-600.
Allegedly, they stole the design file Z-MASS, containing the design history for mass production of Z-600 car. The moulds for various parts of the car was also taken away.
This was a big setback for the project. Since then not much is known on the status of the car. However, there have been reports that unauthorized versions of the car are being manufactured in several countries of the world.
Until his death, Dr Ezekiel Izuogu was involved in the design and development of the emagnetodynamics car engine or the “Izuogu Engine” by the World International Property Organisation.
The Izuogu Z-600 prototype was equipped with a self-made 1.8L four-cylinder engine that got 18mpg. It allowed the car to achieve a top speed of 140 km/h (86 mph).
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) was chosen over Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) because a transmission tunnel, which RWD would require, would be more expensive to fabricate. 90% of the car’s components were made locally.
The design of the car was very utilitarian resembling a Renault 4. It has an upright stance and a front end that vaguely resembles the locally assembled Peugeot 504.
To be priced at $2000 it would have been the cheapest car in the world. Clever features like a doorbell used in place of a horn ensure it achieves its low price target.
The Imo State-born industrialist and Politician died on 18 July 2020.
The inventor is gone but the project cannot be forgotten.It is expected of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to encourage locally made Nigerian products while looking out for foreign investors and partners to improve the economy.
It is a pity, our people should not be seen an organism that eats up herself.
Information reaching our News desk has it that the residence of this great man, Dr Ezekiel Izuogu is up for sale and the Z600 parked there had no engine at the time of this report by 9News Nigeria.
There are many other locally made discoveries by Nigerian students from various schools of higher education but the non sponsorship of such projects closed such doors of vision discoveries. Over there, in the developed countries or western world, such discoveries are taken as previous innovations and discoveries. The government has in their master plan avenue for higher training, research and sponsorships.
A call in the right direction is for the government to introduce investment partnership with foreign investors while promoting the locally made products. Government should as a matter of importance, empower local production sectors and bring up a scheme to train producers across board.
Importantly, Sectors like, Textile, Steel, Agro, Hydo, Oil, Energy, Refineries have to be revamped and employment rate will automatically increase and crime rate will decrease.
Subsequently, it is a known fact that several administrations including Abacha’s government promised to fund many abandoned projects but also failed just as this discovery by Engr Izuogu was swept under the carpets amongst others.
Nigerians are therefore looking up to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to revamp both the production and Agro sector including investment and economy.
-Princely Onyenwe reporting
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