CHAPTER ONE

1.1            GENERAL BACKGROUND OF THE SUBJECT MATTER

The president of manufacturing association ofNigeria, Rufus Giwa (2000.P16) defines industry thus “Industry particularly, manufacturing is the motive force for development. Infact, industrialization is more than engine of growth. It is also the catalyst for technological, financial and socio-economical advancement.

Trade and more specifically foreign trade have astronomically been instrumental in man’s bids towards betterment of his life on earth.

Today we can enjoy and make use of automobiles made in far awayJapanas if they grow in our gradens. Other articles which we can’t dream of producing even in the next millennium liters our markets as if they were going out of fashion. All these are courtesy of foreign trade and broadly on one of its two prolonged division. “importation”. A very concept it is but like a two-edged sword, it can destroy if not carefully handled.

          A study on how foreign products crowd our market, and how our local industries are those divine into oblivion show that we are already receiving a fair dose of rough handling under the sharp claws of his excessive importation.

          “The Nigeriatrade journal” of March/April 1980 analyzing our trade statistics put the total of Beer and Stout importation at N7,562,315. People shouted are rose dust over it that it that it is excessive  but what have we to say today that people zoom off the country just to import tooth picks and toilet tissues?

          The millions of graduates that our academic institutions turn out annually have their fate hanging over the balance. With hands supporting their checks, and all hope on divine intention they helplessly watch as our few industries fold up in their hundreds retrenchment and counter retrenchment of workers have become so common as the few existing ones battle to break even and remain in contention.

Consequently unemployment and poor standard of living can’t be more adventurous.

An idle man they said is the devils tool. Coupling with the fact that both ends must meet, arm-robbery, fraud, bribery, corruption and other social vices exert dominion. Hence our country can’t help wining the inglorious “most corrupt country” award in the year 2000. Our surfing industries virtually are at the end of their tatter judging from the lamentable figures they past in their annual report as profit after exuberant tax from a government that don’t spare their selves a thought about their welfare. Instead of re-investment or expansion, the  little token that will succeed in dropping into last resort to remain in contention in the ever growing competition market.

          These and many more have been the plight of our indigenous industries conserving upon excessive importation. This work tries to look into the effect of this practice and how to curtail its excesses. It will make a steep further to put forward, measures towards revamping the vandalized state of our indigenous industry.

 1.2            PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER

The subject matter is that which have a hamper under its care. Below are some of them.

I DEPRESSION AND DUMPING: With more and more goods from abroad finding their ways undisturbed and unrestrained into the country, compiling with the locally made ones, a will emerge. And not only will exceed demand will our wobbled economy and indigenous industries suffer a great depression, but also the nation will be turned into in dumping ground.

Ii EXCESSIVE COMPETITION: Our weak industries became so much enlarged by the menace of their vibrant foreign counterparts. Much of the market share from day to day fell to these foreign goods.

And to fight back in their own effeminate way in order to still re main in contention, our indigenous industries resort to aggressive promotion, which drain their meager income and adversely their level of operation.

Iii UNEMPLOYMENT: With a generous portion of the market under the control of these foreign goods, and depression the lot of our indigenous industries, mass retrenchment of workers becomes inevitable. Our graduates will then, day in day out continue arading the streets with their files I n search of work that never exist.

Iv FOLDING UP/EXTINCTION: The heart –breaking stage of it all is that after so many years of struggling with their Herculean foreign opponents, majority of those indigenous industries inevitably end up kissing the chest of bankruptcy and liquidation.

V BLEAK FUTURES FOR INDUSTRIALIZATION: The subject matter even posed a sinister signal to our country’s dream towards industrializing the economy. Judging this, who will wish to invest in the industrial sector while the government will just fold other hands and watch indifferently as foreign goods fly as free as weaver bird in and out of the country’s boundary? How will the dream be realized while the meager number of industry already in existence keep on dwindling geometrically? With such a situation, the dream of the nation towards this ends will end up as a mere mirage, and our country will perpetually remain a dependent and parasitic country where foreign will for eternity rely on as a fertile ground for marketing their wares.

 1.3            PROBLEM THAT THE STUDY WILL BE CONCERNED WITH:

I The study will occupy itself with how to systematically x-ray the rate of harm that will be the lot of our country and their industries with the continuous imperialism of this ugly practice under these marques.

Ii. To identify the magnitude of damage, which our indigenous industries have been subjected to, due to excessive importation.

iii. To inculcate in the mind of our country men the need for them is have faith in our local producers and pipe low at the rate by which they scramble over foreign goods be established, people will have more places to invest, standard of living will be enhanced, and our poor economy will be rejuvenated.

1.4            THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING THE AREA

It is certain that inNigeriatoday, the cases of business failure are rampant to the point that it calls for some observations into the causes, consequences and recommendation on their prevention. It is hoped that if the recommendations are properly utilized, it would increase the chances of success and this as a result will reduce the personal and social cost due to the business failure.

          Though, we are not claiming that this singular study is enough to make us “philosophers stones” which car at will turn everything we touches into gold. The beneficiaries of this study includes:

1. Young entrepreneurs who want to go establishing the business of his own choice.
2. Small-scale business operator who does not know the proper way to manage the small-scale industries.
3. The retailers who will wants to buy small quantity of goods and sells to the final consumers.
4. The researchers of tomorrow who wish to adopt their studies on the problems of business would find this present work an invaluable starting point.

The findings, recommendations, strengths and the constrains of this study would be handmaid for them.

          This set of people and many others will find these recommendations in particular useful in other to achieve their cost effectiveness and profit maximization.

 1.5            DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS

Before we drive deeper into this study, let us try to illuminate some terms and words that will keep on occurring in the course of this study.

IMPORTATION: Is the act of bring or causing any goods to be brought into a country’s territory. It can also be seen as a branch of foreign trade which deals on procurement of goods into a country. This goods in question under normal circumstances support to be under the import quota’s as stipulated by the government are being violated or not adhered to it can also mean when emphasis on importation is not strongly laid on what a country actually can’t produce or their basic necessities.

IMPORT QUOTAS: This is quantitative to a specific produce during a given period.

INDUSTRY: This refers to the coming together of firs producing similar goods or is engaged in the same line of operation. It can be said to involve the transformation of materials from original states to news forms. Also it may refer to a group of firms producing different parts a product.

FIRMS: This is an economic mind of an organization involved in a definite production process.

INDUSTRIALIZATION: This can be said to be synonymous with technology. And technology refers to those tool and machine used in the production of both capital and consumer goods.

REFERENCE

Ozochi Chidi (2000): Economics; A Simplified Approach.Enugu;

                                  Fashion Graphics Production.

Amahalu, A.C. (1997): Basic Economic For Schools and Colleges.

                                 Enugu; Mekan and Production.

Giwa Rufus (2000):NigeriaIndustrial Sector: An Overview Daily

                                  Times. Vol. 8 March 16. P. 16.

“Trade Statistic: (1980) The Nigeril Trade Journal Vol. 27 March April.

Nwogu Ijeoma (1999): “Importation of Goods and Services in Nigerial: It’s impact On The Economy”,Enugu, I.M.T