A system analyst, Dr. David Okoro-Arinze, has raised the alarm over the alleged suspension of operations at the Research and Demonstration Plant Complex (RDPC) of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

He warned that the development could undermine Nigeria’s industrial growth and efforts to reduce dependence on imported raw materials.

Okoro-Arinze, in a statement, urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure the revival of the complex, located along Airport Road, Abuja, which he said was established to promote indigenous technologies, encourage local manufacturing, create jobs and strengthen economic self-reliance.

He alleged that industrial activities at the facility were suspended following a change in the council’s leadership in 2024.

He said this raises concerns about the fate of more than 30 pilot plants designed to test and demonstrate technologies developed from locally available raw materials.

The RMRDC, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, is mandated to promote the development, utilisation and local sourcing of raw materials to support industrial growth.

According to Okoro-Arinze, the council has contributed to Nigeria’s industrial development since its establishment in 1988 through initiatives aimed at promoting local sourcing, encouraging value addition and reducing reliance on imported industrial inputs.

He described the Research and Demonstration Plant Complex, formerly known as the RMRDC Technology and Innovation Complex, as a major investment intended to bridge the gap between research and commercial manufacturing.

The complex, he said, occupies about three hectares of land and houses pilot plants designed to demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of locally developed technologies before their adoption by private-sector investors.

He explained that the facility was conceived to enable researchers and engineers to test production processes, identify equipment deficiencies, improve technologies and establish the commercial feasibility of projects before large-scale investment.

According to him, the pilot plants were also expected to encourage private-sector participation in resource-based industries, support academic research and stimulate the development of indigenous manufacturing capacity.

Okoro-Arinze alleged that production activities that began after the completion of the first and second phases of the complex had been stopped under the council’s current leadership.

He attributed the alleged suspension to the position that the council should not compete with private manufacturers, an argument he rejected on the grounds that pilot-scale production was necessary to demonstrate the viability of indigenous technologies.

Among the activities he said had been discontinued were the production of tonnes of dolomite, malaria-prevention tea from Artemisia annua and soap from soap noodles.

He maintained that such activities were not intended to displace private manufacturers but to provide evidence that locally developed technologies could support commercially viable businesses.

According to him, test production and marketing are essential to determining production costs, identifying market demand, correcting technical defects and establishing the break-even point of a project.

He argued that prospective investors would be reluctant to commit substantial resources to unfamiliar technologies without evidence of their technical performance and commercial prospects.

Okoro-Arinze expressed concern over the alleged deterioration of the complex, claiming that parts of the facility had become overgrown with weeds.

He said engineers associated with the projects had been sent to similar plants in Ethiopia, China, India and the United Kingdom to study technologies and explore ways of improving production equipment and processes.

The analyst listed several facilities reportedly housed at the complex, including pilot plants for pharmaceutical-grade talc, calcined kaolin, caustic soda, precipitated calcium carbonate, aluminium sulphate, copper sulphate, water-borne paint, soap noodles and essential oils.

Others, he said, covered hydrated lime, sorbitol, sugar beet and sweet sorghum processing, oil seeds and their derivatives, tomato paste, sweeteners, Artemisia annua and Matra Kilishi.

He argued that the range of facilities demonstrated the potential of the complex to support different industrial value chains and create opportunities for local processing and value addition.

According to him, allowing the facilities to remain idle would risk wasting public resources invested in infrastructure and equipment intended to support Nigeria’s long-term industrial development.

He urged Tinubu to direct the relevant authorities to investigate the situation and take steps to restore the complex to full operation.

Beyond the operational concerns, Okoro-Arinze questioned the eligibility of the current Director-General, Professor Ike-Muonso, to head the council.

He cited Section 9(2)(b) of the RMRDC Act 2022, which he said requires the Director-General to possess at least 18 years of post-qualification experience in science, engineering or technology-related subjects.