■ Chairman, Okomu Oil, Gbenga Oyebode
By Uba Godwin
Tel: 08034494437, E-mail: [email protected]
NIGERIA is at present facing a myriad of problems ranging from challenges posed by falling oil prices, security, infrastructural decay, unemployment, irregular power supply, corruption and recently the Niger-Delta Avengers (NDA) menace to mention but a few.
The major cause of all these problems rests on the fact that we have failed to diversify our economy over the years. All attention was focused on oil resources. The income from the oil sector was not re-invested to other more productive sectors of the economy.
Nigeria was once known for palm oil, groundnut, cocoa and other agricultural products. There was a time the country had ‘ground pyramids’ in the north, cocoa in the west and palm produce in the east. All these disappeared as a result of massive income from crude oil export. The only way that this country will be great again is to look inwards towards investment in agriculture, manufacturing, exploiting massive mineral deposits in all over the country and technology. Through this, the country will be less dependent on importation of foods, increase its export base, support local industries and establish more industries.
However, people with entrepreneurial mindset know that these problems are opportunities and only those who can think fast will be able to benefit from it. Today is very early for us to learn from past experiences and work towards the correction.
We can start very small today with plans to grow bigger tomorrow. This is where the importance of small and medium scale industries cannot be overlooked.
There is no product you produce carefully within the country that you will not get adequate patronage and turnover. However, there are so many viable manufacturing businesses one can invest in with little capital. Today we consider investment you can make with amounts below N20 million. You can invest into tissue/serviette paper producing plant to improve local supply and generate employment.
This is a small scale project anybody can invest in; those that are still working and want to make additional income, retired workers, pensioners, local and state governments that want to empower unemployed youths, housewives who want to establish business while at the same time taking care of the home.
Most Nigerian households consume toilet rolls in large quantity. Its demand is influenced by population explosion, rapid urbanisation and social awareness. It is generally used for cleaning and sanitary purposes in households, restaurants, hotels, canteens, social gatherings, parties, maternity homes, clinics, hospitals, educational institutions, churches, night clubs, shops, fast food centres and offices.
Research findings indicate that Nigeria alone now needs over 1,050 million tons of tissue papers per annum. While our total local production output is still less than 150 million tones, the supply gap offers a tremendous opportunity for Nigeria investors.
Nigerian investors can now go into this lucrative business using locally made machines fully tested with records of success to show to prospective investors. Though there are imported machines as well, our local investors do not need to waste their scarce foreign exchange for the importation.
You have no problem about this since we will assist you in procuring and installing quality machines that stand the test of time at moderate and affordable prices. The attractiveness of this project is that both the raw materials and equipment are locally available and the technology involved is very easy to understand and master. The essential equipment are: –
- Core making machine
- Rewinding System
- Band Saw cutter
- Embossing Unit
- Perforating Unit
These equipment are portable, simple to operate and durable. The machines will be procured from our technical department which is highly experienced with records to show to prospective investors. The machines will come with one year warranty. We will install and train your manpower as well as assisting in ensuring that attractive and quality packaging is achieved.
The machinery being introduced here is rugged, reliable and high performing with a capacity of 5,000kg per day. Operating on a single shift for a minimum of 250 days per annum, a total of 1,250,000 MT of tissue paper will be procured and processed into quality tissue products (toilet rolls & serviettes).
You can obtain all the required raw materials in Nigeria and with ease. Raw materials include jumbo reels, and glue. Packaging materials include printed labels and nylon rolls. All these are 100 per cent available locally.
Many Nigerians have burnt their fingers while sourcing local machinery from some inexperienced and dishonest fabricators who produce machines with very low efficiency. Many investors have been deceived. They also tell big lies about the efficiency, performance, capacity and life span of these machines. To guard against this industrial fraud, prospective investors can contact this writer for free investment advisory services. The issue of availability of raw materials should not disturb anybody because we have so many options to handle it.
On the whole, a toilet roll paper project is a very good small-scale industry, which can launch a small investor into the world of multi-millionaires within one year.
You can set up the project in a small space. A three-bedroom flat garage or warehouse may serve, as accommodation while staff strength of eight is required for effective production, marketing and administration. Bigger or smaller plants are also available at competitive prices. You can start the project with the sum of N7 million and above. The project is very profitable; since the machine will process 1,250,000MT per annum, the total sales revenue is N437.5million from which we deducted our total inputs of N315. 5million thus realising a gross profit before tax of N122.5million in the first year.