Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
At its upcoming 50th annual general meeting, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) plans to unveil a 10-year industrialization strategy for the country (AGM).
The meeting’s theme is “An Agenda for Nigeria’s Industrialization in the Next Decade.”
The theme of the AGM, according to MAN President Engr. Mansur Ahmed, “is borne out of the need to take stock of the nation’s journey to industrialization, to ascertain the pains and pain-points; to highlight the performance limiters; to recognize the gains and growth milestones; and to identify the learning curves and hurdles ahead, all with a view to crafting a robust agenda for resetting industrialization, albeit manufacturing in Niger.”
He lamented that many government policies had exacerbated the already difficult operating environment for manufacturers.
“It is indeed a source of great concern for our members that, even as our economy continues to grow at a very slow pace, our policymakers at all levels continue to aggravate the situation by introducing new taxes, exacerbating the difficult and high-cost operating environment.” When the economy slows in some countries, the government lowers taxes to encourage businesses to expand, create more jobs, and boost economic activity. What we are seeing in Nigeria today is not only an increase in tax rates, but also the introduction of new taxes and the transformation of every public agency into a revenue collector.”
According to him, “in the last 30 years, peer countries have surpassed Nigeria in terms of industrialisation, while the country has stagnated and even regressed industrially.”
Meanwhile, in response to a question, the MAN president condemned the Kogi State government’s closure of the Dangote Cement plant in Obajana, calling the action concerning and unwarranted.
“The Kogi State government’s action in shutting down the Dangote Cement plant is very concerning,” he said. It is shocking that the government will close a plant that provides jobs and economic activities to the people of Kogi State on a large scale.”
