(a) Using specific examples, describe any four factors influencing the location of manufacturing industries in developing countries (b) Outline four problems associated with the establishment of heavy industries in West Africa (c) Suggest solution to these problems
Explanation
(a)(i) Management (ii) Government policy (iii) Availability of labour (skilled or unskilled) (iv) Nearness to raw material (v) Transport and communication (vi) Capital (vii) Proximity to source of power (viii) demand/market (i) Personal bias/ taste: The specific examples are: Okpilla (Edo) and Ewekoro (Ogun) cement industries, paper Mills in Jebba (Kwara) Iwopin Paper Mill (Ogun). (b)(i) Erratic power supply (ii) Inadequate raw materials (iii) Inadequate capital (iv) Inadequate skilled labour (v) Political instability (vi) Low purchasing power (vii) Unfavourable government policies (viii) Poor management (ix) Inadequate transportation and poor road network (x) Corruption among government officials (xi) Competition with foreign goods (xii) High cost of spare parts and poor maintenance culture (c)(i) Local sourcing of raw materials (ii) Good government policies (iii) Loans at low interest rates (iv) Organisation of management courses (v) Increases in wages and salaries of workers (vi) Training of labour force (vii) Building and maintenance of infrastructural facilities.