Ogundipe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the company had lot of steel metal that could be used for automobile industry.

“If Ajaokuta steel is functioning, there is possibility that we get the raw materials needed for automobile industry instead of the scraps that are being used now.

“The steel company holds the future of auto industry in Nigeria because when we talk of auto, two things are involved which are the plastics or metals.

“So the company holds the metals and metals carry almost 70 per cent of vehicles apart from the interior,’’ he said.

Ogundipe said the council staff needed training for them to improve in the area of research, saying that most of the workers did not have international training.

He added that the council needed fund for equipment to function at full capacity.

Ogundipe called for more political will to enable the council to carry out research and function properly.

He called for a law in the country that would make it compulsory for companies to use locally made products, adding such would make the council do better.(NAN)