The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate the abandonment of over 30 industrial development centres across the country.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on notice, sponsored by the member representing Onitsha North/Onitsha South Federal Constituency, Anambra State, Mr Emeka Godwin.

At a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, the Anambra lawmaker noted that “Over 30 industrial development centres were established in the 70s with the objectives of assisting small and medium scale industries.”

According to the Labour Party lawmaker, “Despite the four zonal centres located in Osogbo, Owerri, Zaria and Maiduguri, the country cannot be said to have benefited much from the establishment.

“The House is aware that the Osogbo IDC was established in February 1976 on 70 hectares of land by the Federal Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme to provide technical assistance in the field of small and medium scale industries development in the country;

“The Osogbo and other centres have been neglected and abandoned over the years, leading to private entities taking over their lands and buildings.

“We are also aware that the main objective of establishing the centres with public funds was to promote industrialisation, reduce foreign exchange demand, and provide numerous benefits to the country.”

At inception, the 30 IDCs, particularly the four zonal centres, were fully equipped with heavy machinery to disseminate industrial technical knowledge and skills that would have tremendously impacted the country’s drive towards industrialisation.

The lawmaker lamented that over the years, virtually all of the IDCs and equipment were wasting away while some of the equipment had become obsolete.

He stressed, “Although the Federal Government had handed over the centres to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria for some years now, nothing has been done holistically to redress the pathetic situation in these centres.

“If this trend is not checked, the country will continue to lose the benefits of industrialisation, which will in turn affect the standard of living of the people.”

Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated the Committee on Industry to investigate the neglect and abandonment of the centres, recommend appropriate optimal utilisation for their objectives and report within four weeks for further legislative action.