Weeds and rodents have taken over Steyr (Nigeria) Ltd’s automobile plant in Bauchi.

It is one of the four automobile assembly plants established in the country about 40 years ago.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the factory’s road currently serves as a platform to dry farm produce.

Ibrahim Buba, a staff of the company’s Marketing Department, told NAN that the factory, used to assemble trucks, tractors, and buses at its inception, became moribund many years ago.

Mr Buba added that the company’s problems started after its privatisation by the federal government.

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

Another employee of the company, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told NAN that the company stopped production in 2007.

The source told NAN he became an employee in 1980, revealing with nostalgia that during the rosy years, Steyr Motors assembled 5,000 tractors, 2,000 trucks, and 2,000 buses per annum for the Nigerian market.

The source 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 of 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. Three years ago, we had to resort to litigation. We have taken them to court,” he said.

Some staff of the company, who declined to be named, said the government could revive the company if it reclaimed the plant and invited capable expatriates to manage it.

Private stakeholders of the company declined to comment on the issue.

Several visits by NAN to the office of Bauchi’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Maryam Begel, did not yield results as she was said to be away on an official assignment.

(NAN)