FIIRO produces brake pads, bumper, others from kenaf

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has produced brake pads, bumpers and other vehicle parts from Kenaf, a fibrous plant.

The brake pads and other vehicle accessories manufactured by FIIRO from the fibrous plant were displayed at the institute’s headquarters in Lagos during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FIIRO, Kenaf Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (KPPMAN), and the Crystal Entrepreneurship Centre.

In her opening speech, Gloria Elemo, director-general of FIIRO, stated that the research that went into the production of motor vehicle non-mechanical parts was borne out of the institute’s quest to industrialise Nigeria.

Elemo pointed out that research and development (R&D) was useless until taken to the market, buttressing that this led the institute to collaborate with KPPMAN and CEC to commercialise the parts.

Nigeria has a population of 198 million, with about 12 million vehicles plying on its roads. It has estimated 10,000 car sales annually, a significant drop from 50,000 cars sold in 2013.

The country does not produce brake pads, bumper and other vehicle parts manufacturers, with Star Auto Industries Limited, only brake pads manufacturing firm, shutting down in 2014.

Dunlop and Michelin, two tyre makers, left Nigeria in 2008 on the back of high energy cost, inability to compete with second-hand vehicles and lack of liquidity, those knowledgeable about the firms said.

If commercialised, the new vehicle parts are tapped to reduce Nigeria’s import bill and increase local input sourcing in the country.

“Kenaf will turn the economy of this country around as it has numerous products that come out of it, such as brake pads, vehicle bumpers, ceiling boards, papers, doors, agro-sack, rope and others,” Elemo said.

“This collaboration is to jointly develop projects and empower stakeholders with FIIRO technology for the needed economic development.

“Nigeria is still classified as underdeveloped because we did not make use of our R&D results over the years. We are very happy that FIIRO today has developed over 250 R&D results for commercialisation,” she added.

Commending FIIRO for its giant strides, Ibrahim Gwazo, chairman of governing board, FIIRO, noted that public- private partnership (PPP) was important for the development of the national economy, adding that such collaborations and innovative research would help in moving the country away from being oil- dependent economy to becoming production-led.

Chika Ezeanyanaso, who supervised the project, disclosed that she was motivated to embark on the project because it cost Nigeria $2 billion annually to import agro-sack and jut bags.

“We sought an alternative plant, which is Kenaf. So we went into research and found out that the chemical component of Kenaf is better than that of jute bags. We also went into research on plantain and banana stems to produce agro-sack, ropes, as well as use it to reinforce plastics that are used for the production of certain vehicle components. Our target is to use it to make non-mechanical parts of vehicles. We have also used it to produce disposable cups and plastics,” Ezeanyanaso said.

“We want to convert waste to wealth,” she added.

Odinaka Anudu