Paper production is one of the industrial activities regarded as a pointer to industrialization and educational development worldwide. While the use of computers and other forms of technology for data storage and retrieval is on the increase, the demand for paper has continued to rise despite a country like Dubai that went 100% paperless in 2021.
Annually, over 300 million tons of paper are used globally; a depiction that world consumption of paper has grown by 400 percent in the last 40 years. As a matter of fact, the Food and Agricultural Organization in 2006 predicted that paper production will increase globally by 50% in 2050. The steady upswing in global consumption of paper is due to three reasons which include:
- increasing global population density
- increasing utilization of paper beyond office; and
- consumer-based lifestyle that stimulates infinite quest and demand for finished goods.
One of the earlier strategic plans of the Nigerian government for the development of the paper industry was to promote the plantation establishment of Pinus species for long fiber pulp production. Consequently, seeds were imported and established in plantations in various locations within the savanna and forest ecologies in Nigeria. While some successes were recorded at the early stage of the project, the exercise later turned out to be a failure due to negligence. Trial of pine species (Pinus caribaea and Pinus ocarpa carried out in Obudu plateau, Beki plantation near Obudu, Nde forest plantation near Ikom, and Ndon Ebom near Uyo and Eugu were quite successful though the hectarage covered was not extensive. Presently pines are grown as ornamental trees but no commercial pulp has been made from them as in the case of Melina. Hence there is an urgent need to stimulate the establishment of these pine tree species in areas suitable for their growth by the government.
Unfortunately, up till now, there are no pulp mills in Nigeria. Ironically these pulp woods are been used for firewood, furniture, and for construction work. The fibrous raw material used in paper-making is the pulps obtained from wood, and the non-fibrous paper-making raw materials otherwise termed the chemical additives that impart special properties to the paper. These chemical additives include starch as a bonding agent, rosinalum, alkylketene dimer (AKD) as a sizing agent which controls water penetration in the paper, fillers example limestone, clay, titanium dioxide, and colorants, however, the type of additive for any paper depends on the required property and end-use.
RESUSCITATION AND STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA
The Director of the Industrial development department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adewale Bakare, accessed the Nigeria paper production in three Dimensions while presenting a keynote speech on the topic “Bridging the gap in local pulp and paper production in Nigeria” at the Nigerian International Paper and Pulp Summit, Abuja 2022.
He said, “The Nigerian Pulp & Paper Industry is a versatile industry not just because of its enormous potential but because its transverses and has an impact on other industries. The pulp value chain can create thousands of jobs; Facilitate industrialization; Reduce the drain on Forex; Contribute to improving security situation; Create an eco-system of interdependent SMEs etc”. He stated
He looked at the three (3) dimensions of the sector
THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE
THE PAST
Between the 1970s and 1990s, the sector was vibrant because three (3) integrated paper mills were established to cater to the local needs of all grades of paper and also served the export markets were functional and were:
- Nigeria Paper Mill (NPM) Jebba;
- Nigeria Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC) Oku-Iboku;
- Nigerian National Paper Manufacturing Company (NNPMC) is now Iwopin Pulp and Paper Company (IPPC) Iwopin.
The success of the mills was premised on several factors which include:
- Availability of infrastructure and plantation to support the mills
- An adequate supply of energy to produce short fibre pulp
- Availability of FV to steadily import the long fibre comp0nent
The advent of the Oil boom precipitated the neglect of the entire manufacturing sector, the Pulp & Paper Industry inclusive.
The gradual decline and collapse of the Paper mills which of course had a ravaging effect on the P&P Industry could be adduced to the following factors amongst several:
- High cost of production;
To read the full story, kindly place an order for a copy of the 102 editions by calling us at 08169767741 or 08035837934.
