The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on governments at all levels to strengthen security and rehabilitate road infrastructure to promote business growth and industrial development in the country.
MAN President, Mr Francis Meshioye, made the call at the association’s 18th Annual General Meeting held in Uyo on Tuesday. He said improved security and road networks would ease the movement of raw materials and finished goods nationwide.
Speaking through the Director-General, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Meshioye noted that insecurity and poor road conditions have significantly increased operational costs for manufacturers, making logistics difficult and expensive.
He also stressed the need for improved power supply, saying many small-scale businesses were running at a loss due to the high cost of electricity. He proposed quarterly interactive meetings between manufacturers and government to address operational challenges and shape policies that support industrial growth.
Reiterating the meeting’s theme, “Buy Nigerian Products, Build Nigeria; A Path to Sustainable Industrial Growth,” Meshioye urged Nigerians to patronise locally made goods to strengthen the economy.
“By buying Nigerian-made goods, we are voting for jobs, innovation and economic resilience. Our industries are ready to deliver quality products that meet global standards,” he said.
In his remarks, Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, represented by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr Iniobong Ekong, said the state had improved ease of doing business through a one-stop portal, reducing the time to obtain a business licence from 45 days to seven days.
He added that the state’s Industrial Policy 2024–2029 offers a five-year tax holiday to new manufacturing firms and a 50 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs for energy-intensive industries.
Earlier, the Chairman of MAN Akwa Ibom/Cross River Branch, Dr Inalegwu Adoga, raised concerns over multiple taxation, describing it as a major challenge to businesses. He said the branch continued to promote local patronage, backward integration and local content development.
Also speaking, Mr Howard Usen, South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative (NAADI), said Nigeria’s economic future depended heavily on a strong manufacturing sector, noting that manufacturers play a key role in adding value to agricultural produce.