source

Manufacturing is the changing, turning, or transformation of raw materials into new or finished products through mechanical or chemical processes at home (cottage) or in the factory.

Manufacturing, as a modern activity in Nigeria, is a relatively new addition to the country's economic development history.

The craft industry was previously practiced in the country. Among the craft industry's products were artifacts made of wood, brass, bronze, leather, hand-woven textiles, bags, and fire-burnt pottery made of clay. Manufacturing activities have advanced in modern times as a result of a number of fundamental factors, including the availability of raw materials, a large domestic market, hydroelectric power, and so on.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN NIGERIA

1. The majority of Nigeria's manufacturing industries are small-scale.

2. They are concentrated in a few areas, particularly in urban areas.

3. They rely on raw materials imported from other countries.

4. It is difficult for them to obtain raw materials from within the country.

5. They rely on foreign technical expertise (imported skilled labor).

6. These industries are also labor intensive, requiring a large labor force to operate.

7. They place a premium on the production of consumer goods.

8. The majority of their products are consumed in the local market.

9. The majority of Nigeria's manufacturing industries are light industries.

FORMS OR CLASSIFICATIONS OF NIGERIAN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

Manufacturing industries in Nigeria can be divided into two categories:

A. There are three major classes:
(i) light industries;

(ii) Consumer Goods;

(iii) Heavy industries

B. Three major categories:

(i) primary industries;

Secondary industries (ii)

Tertiary industries (iii).

A. (i) LIGHT INDUSTRIES: These are secondary industries that manufacture items that are relatively light in weight, like matches, fans, televisions, books, pencils, and so forth. The labor force is mostly women. They produce final or consumable goods. Apart from Nigeria, they are found in other tropical countries like Ghana, Ivory Coast, and so on.

(ii) CONSUMER GOODS INDUSTRIES: These are concerned with the transformation of raw materials into consumable goods. They are mostly concentrated in cities like Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt.

(iii) HEAVY INDUSTRIES: These are also secondary industries. Their products are heavy or bulky. Males dominate the labor force. Metallurgical, petroleum, and shipbuilding industries are examples of such industries. However, these industries are most commonly found in Europe, the United States, Germany, and China.

source

B. (i) PRIMARY INDUSTRIES: These are concerned with the extraction of natural raw materials. They are also known as extractive industries. Among these are lumbering, fishing, cotton, rubber, palm oil, cocoa, livestock production, and others.

(ii) SECONDARY INDUSTRIES: These are industries that specialize in converting raw materials into consumable goods. Peugeot Automobile Assembly Nigeria (PAN) in Kaduna, Sanyo Assembly Plant in Ibadan, Zenox Computers in Abuja, and other industries such as textile, chemicals, ship and boat building, iron and steel, and so on are examples of these.

(iii) TERTIARY INDUSTRIES: These industries provide important services such as trading, driver (chauffeur), banking, medical, and transportation. The clergy, teaching, military and paramilitary (army, navy, air force, police, immigration, road safety, customs, and excise), and so on are examples of indirect services.

source

INDUSTRIES IN NIGERIA

Nigeria has two major types of industries:

1. Local Craft (Cottage) Industries; and

2. Factory or modern manufacturing industries.

1. LOCAL CRAFTS OR COTTAGE INDUSTRIES IN NIGERIA

These are the industries that rely heavily on locally sourced or obtained raw materials. These are craftsmen and women who use simple tools and specialize in a specific product based on their artistic quality. Among the most important local craft industries are:

(a) Pottery and glass making: These are found in Abuja, Ilorin, Bida, Auchi (Edo State), Ikot Ekpene, and Calabar. The main products are earthen pots, which are rapidly fading and being replaced by plastic products produced by modern industries.

source

(b) Canoe Making: This is associated with the Niger Delta creeks and the Niger-Benue trough (valley) in Nigeria. Canoes are used for fishing and transportation in the area. Such industries can be found in Okitipupa (Ondo State), Opobo (Rivers State), and Epe (Lagos State).

source

(c) Wood Carving: This industry is located in the rainforest zone, where the raw material, primarily hardwood, is abundant. Benin (Edo State), Ikot Epkene and Uyo (Akwa Ibom State), Oyo (Oyo State), Akure (Ondo State), and Awka (Anambra State) are the most important wood carving centers.

(d) Leather Works: The hides and skins derived from animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats serve as the raw materials required. These industries manufacture items such as sandals, cushions, handbags, belts, hats and caps, and so on. Kano, Bida, Suleja, Sokoto, and Oyo have them.

(e) Traditional Food Processing Industries: These industries process food that is consumed locally as well as exported. These include "Garri," which is made from cassava and is a "staple food" for a large portion of Nigeria's population. This is found in the states of Edo, Delta, Anambra, Enugu, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ebonyi, and Ogun.

Another important one is the palm oil industry, which is derived from the palm tree and is commonly found in Nigeria's Equatorial Rainforest region. Palm kernel and palm kernel oil are extracted after the oil is extracted.

The edible oil is used in cooking and as a raw material, while the shells are used locally for road construction and landscaping.

LOCAL CRAFT (COTTAGE) INDUSTRIES' PROBLEMS

1. Inadequate Raw Materials: In Nigeria, local crafts or cottage industries are frequently hampered by a lack of raw materials, which impedes production.

2. Poor Local Patronage: Poor local patronage is caused by poor finishing and low purchasing power, both of which have an impact on the industry.

3. Lack of Modern Machinery: The production is highly labor-intensive due to a lack of modern factory equipment.

4. Inadequate Transportation Network: Inadequate transportation prevents the assembly of raw materials and the evacuation of finished products from the interior to urban centers.