Firm Invests N750m In Steel Pipe Production

The Nigeria Gas and Steel Limited, NGSL, a Lagos-based company, has raised the stakes in the manufacturing of steel pipes by investing a whopping $5 million (N750 million) in its new production line.

NGSL Managing Director, Mr. Hasib Moukarim, disclosed that the new production line the manufactures larger and stronger steel pipes used in the construction of warehouses, airport terminals, conference halls, shopping malls and pedestrian bridges, among others.

According to him, “the expansion is a kind of promotion to higher class of industry that is directed to serve the construction and infrastructure fields in Nigeria and West Africa.”

Moukarim said the 70-metre long pipe mill manufactures of huge steel pipes with 4′ to 10′ diameter and 3mm to 10mm thickness.

He said the presence of the mill is a blessing to the country as it stands to save millions of dollars currently spent in importing large diameter steel pipes and beams.

In order to make it a complete mill, he said a sophisticated bending machine has also been added to the company’s facility.

Moukarim said the product was subject to impact and hydro tests by experts, and promoters look forward to great demand of the new product from state and federal governments.

“The Nigeria Gas and Steel Limited has been producing steel pipes in Nigeria since 1976. But we were only involved in the production of pipes meant for iron and metal furniture and light construction items, such as burglar-proof doors, hand rails, gates, fences, etc. But lately, we decided that since all the manufacturers of steel pipes in Nigeria produce the same sizes of pipes, we will lead the way by upgrading our facilities and introducing larger steel pipes meant mainly for general construction.

“These new types of pipes are thicker and larger in diameter. This simply means that the steel used to make these new pipes is of a higher gauge. For instance, any steel pipe that we produced before now ranged between 0.8mm and 3mm in thickness. But now, we are producing higher grades of between 4mm and 10mm in thickness.

“The higher the thickness of a pipe, the stronger and better it is and can be used for heavy construction. The new pipes we are producing are mainly for construction or heavy-duty works. In addition, we can produce round, square and rectangular shapes, according to demand,” Moukarim said.

—Simon Ateba