Steyr

Weeds and rodents have taken over the premises of Steyr (Nigeria) Ltd, Bauchi, one of the four Automobile Assembly Plants established in the country about 40 years ago.

The road leading to the factory is now being used for drying of farm produce.

Mr Ibrahim Buba, a staff of the Marketing Department of the company, said that the factory, which used to assemble trucks, tractors and buses at its inception, had become moribund long ago.

Buba said the problems of the company started after its privatization by the Federal Government, which led to transfer of ownership to private individuals.

According to him, staff union and management of the factory are in court over assets and liability, including staff entitlement, among other things.

Another  employee of the company who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the company stopped production  since year 2007.

Looking back, he said, Steyr Motors assembled 5,000 tractors, 2,000 trucks and 2,000 buses per annum, for the Nigerian market.

He said the government withdrew its shares in the company during the military era, and later sold it to individuals who failed to sustain production.

He explained that as at the year 2007, the company had over 2,000 employees, adding that they had spent over six years now without salary.

“Nobody sacked us and no one saved us. We have spent over six years without salary; in fact, three years ago, we had to resort to litigation; we have taken them to court,” he said.

Some staff of the company, who also did not want to be mentioned, said the company could still be revived if the government took over the plant and invited capable expatriates to manage it.