Despite the well-orchestrated narrative of industrial progress and local empowerment, the emergence of Odhav Multi Industries (SL) Limited has raised more concern than celebration among the average Sierra Leonean. While the company prides itself as the nation’s first fully automated steel manufacturing plant with bold claims of producing high-quality TMT iron rods and PPGI roofing sheets on home soil, the much-anticipated price relief for consumers has not materialized in any meaningful way. Instead of easing the burden on local builders, Odhav Multi Industries appears to have turned what should have been a national blessing into a profiteering venture that exploits public hopes under the guise of economic transformation.
The promise of reduced dependency on imported construction materials and the supposed benefits of consistent availability have so far yielded little to no financial advantage for the ordinary buyer. Prices of iron rods and roofing sheets remain stubbornly high, far removed from the affordability that was repeatedly echoed when the company launched its operations in Koya Chiefdom near the Songo Toll Gate. In fact, many Sierra Leoneans have come to the painful realization that this industrial setup, contrary to its branding as a patriotic milestone, is merely another commercial enterprise deeply committed to maximising profits rather than alleviating the economic strain on a population already grappling with high living costs.
Consumers who had hoped that local production would drive down prices have instead found themselves facing rates that rival, if not exceed, those of previously imported goods. A single packet of roofing sheets costs upwards of Le 1,275,000 to nearly Le 1.9 million depending on thickness and while bulk discounts are offered, they remain inaccessible to the average citizen who cannot afford such volumes. Meanwhile, iron rods, though manufactured locally in various sizes, show no indication of benefiting from cost reductions that should logically follow from eliminating overseas shipping and import taxes. The contradiction between the company’s marketing and the lived experiences of the people has become a growing source of public frustration.
Rather than championing the cause of national development through affordable construction inputs, Odhav Multi Industries (SL) Limited seems entrenched in a model that prioritizes revenue over responsibility. Its impressive machinery and gleaming factories may symbolize industrial advancement, but the real measure of progress lies in how it impacts the lives of everyday citizens. For now, that impact is felt more in rising prices than in any form of economic relief. If the intent was to empower, then Odhav must realign its profit ambitions with the practical needs of the people whose trust it claims to uphold.
However, citizens were asking if Odhav Multi Industries (SL) Limited has created any impact to Sierra Leoneans regarding the prices of steel materials in the markets.
