MAN urges govt to boost security, infrastructure for growth

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged governments at all levels to reinforce security and rehabilitate road infrastructure to enhance the movement of raw materials and finished goods, thereby promoting business growth in the country.

MAN’s president, Mr Francis Meshioye, made the call in his remarks at the 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association held in Uyo.

Our correspondent reports that the theme of the AGM was: “Buy Nigerian Products, Build Nigeria; A Path to Sustainable Industrial Growth.”

Meshioye, who was represented by the Director-General, MAN, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, asserted that insecurity and poor road infrastructure had continued to affect businesses nationwide, making the movement of raw materials and finished goods difficult and expensive.

He also called for improved power supply, stressing that many small-scale businesses were operating at a loss due to the high cost of electricity for production and service delivery.

“To further boost industrial growth, we humbly appeal for consideration in the following areas: reinforcing security and engaging with host communities; eliminating duplication to foster a predictable business environment; and introducing quarterly interactive meetings between manufacturers and ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to address operational challenges and shape policies that drive industrial growth,” Meshioye noted.

The MAN president reiterated the need for Nigerians to be patriotic by patronising locally-made goods to stimulate economic growth.

He called on governments to be deliberate in patronising made-in-Nigeria products by ensuring that vehicles used by political officeholders and ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) were locally manufactured.

According to him, increased patronage of Nigerian-made goods would create more jobs for the teeming population and help reduce youth restiveness.

“By choosing Nigerian-made goods, we are voting for jobs, innovation and economic resilience. Our industries are ready to deliver quality products that meet global standards, but we need your support, your patronage and your patriotism,” he said.

In his remarks, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State stated that the state government had improved the ease of doing business through the introduction of a “one-stop portal.”

Eno, who was represented by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Capt. Iniobong Ekong (rtd), said the portal had significantly streamlined business processes, reducing the average time required to obtain a business licence from 45 days to just seven days.

The governor said the state’s Industrial Policy (2024–2029) offers a five-year tax holiday for new manufacturing enterprises, a 50 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs for energy-intensive plants, and a matching grant scheme for research and development projects that achieve at least a 15 per cent increase in productivity.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and competitive manufacturing sector that contributes to national GDP while improving the living standards of the people.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman of MAN, Akwa Ibom/Cross River State Branch, Dr Inalegwu Adoga, said multiple taxation had continued to pose significant challenges to businesses.

Adoga said that, in line with the theme of the AGM, the branch had remained committed to promoting local patronage, local content advocacy and backward integration, which are essential for building a stronger Nigerian economy.

He added that the path to the nation’s sustainable prosperity lies in a collaborative, innovation-driven and production-based economy.

In a goodwill message, the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative (NAADI), Mr Howard Usen, said the future of Nigeria’s economy was intrinsically linked to a strong manufacturing sector.

Usen noted that manufacturers are critical off-takers for agricultural produce, transforming raw materials into value-added products that drive domestic consumption and exports.

He commended MAN for its sustained commitment to industrial growth, economic diversification and national development.