Non-metallic products sector adds 1.183m workers

Non-metallic products sector added 1, 183, 157 workers in the second half of 2013 (H2 2013). This brings the total number of jobs created by this sector in 2013 to 1,492,060, as employment created in the first half of the year was 308,903, information from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has shown.

Non-metallic sector involves cement, ceramics and glass makers. Key players in the cement industry are Dangote Cement (DangCem), Lafarge WAPCO, the United Cement Company of Nigeria (UniCem) and Ashaka Cement (AshakaCem). Players in the ceramics industry include West African Ceramics Limited located in Kogi State; Goodwill Ceramics FZE, Agbara; Wonderful Pottery, Lagos, among others. A notable player in the glass industry is Friggoglass Limited, located at Agbara, Ogun State.

“Analysis revealed that the cement group, which hitherto, has been leading the manufacturing sector, has contributed largely to these increases,’’ says MAN, as “the increase has been as a result of improved performance in production output and the corresponding increase in the rate of capacity utilisation.’’