Asaba, Nov. 24, 2023: The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Edo and Delta governments to prioritise ease of doing business for manufacturers.
The President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, made the call during the 37th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Edo/Delta branch of MAN on Thursday in Asaba.
Meshioye said manufacturers in both states were faced with problems that needed both federal and state governments intervention.
Represented by Mrs Nwanne Okafor, he said that poor roads, especially in Edo, illegal tax collection, and epileptic power supply were affecting ease of doing business in the states.
“The state government should work with the Federal Government on the rehabilitation of roads in Edo.
“Both states should list all payable taxes, harmonise them and make them available to the public, the collection of taxes and levies by touts should be eradicated.
“Both states should also extend their independent power supply to manufacturers to reduce their cost of production,” he said.
Meshioye explained that the AGM was to engage more with the private sector and government on policies affecting the growth of the manufacturing sector.
On her part, Prof. Dicta Ogisi, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, stressed that the manufacturing sector was crucial in the development of any nation.
Ogisi, however, noted that corruption, inflation, unstable exchange rate and poor infrastructure had continued to hamper the growth of the manufacturing sector.
She lamented the poor state of connecting roads between Edo and Delta, noting that it was slowing down manufacturing activities in the region.
Also, the outgoing Chairman of MAN, Edo/Delta branch, Dr Okwara Udensi, urged the Federal government to remove all bottlenecks in the power privatisation agreement with the Discos.
“The government should open the sector for private investors to generate and distribute power to the people; that way, there will be competition and the sector will be better for it.
“We will not be able to compete favourably well at the Africa Free Trade Zone if we don’t resolve the challenges confronting the manufacturing sector,” he said.
Udensi also reiterated the need for the establishment of manufacturer’s bank in the country to address the financial needs of the manufacturing sector.
The highpoint of the event was the election of Mr Osadolor Ehizogie, as the new chairman for the Edo/Delta branch of MAN.
The 37th AGM was tagged Nigeria’s Economic Environment: The Consequences on the Growth and Sustainability of the Manufacturing Sector in Nigeria.”
