MAN Seeks More Support, Patronage To Grow The Manufacturing Sector

The President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Engr. Mansur Ahmed has said that to grow the economy, create jobs and increase contribution to government revenue, the manufacturing sector must be supported to scale production through increased capacity utilization and adequate patronage.

He disclosed this on Monday at the opening ceremony of the 3-Day Made-in-Nigeria Exhibition at the 50th Annual General Meeting of MAN in Lagos.

According to him, “you would recall that MAN has in the past four years organized this exhibition in furtherance of its patronage of the Made-in-Nigeria campaign. Executive Orders 003 and 005 exemplified the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to grow domestic production through the patronage of locally produced goods.”

“It is in this regard, that the Presidential Committee on the monitoring of the implementation order 005 should be called to action.”

Ahmed explained that the Committee which is chaired by the President and anchored by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology should be mandated to ensure strict compliance with the order.

He noted that the Ministry, Department and Agencies of Government that fail to comply with the Executive Order should be sanctioned accordingly.

“It is worthy of note that President Muhamadu Buhari has consistently maintained that Nigerians should consume what they produce and produce what they consume.

Speaking further, he stressed that, “this three-day exhibition, therefore, is a demonstration of the capacity of the Nigerian manufacturing sector to produce what they consumed. What is left is for Government and Nigerians to consume what we produce.

“On our part, I want to assure you that the Manufactures Association of Nigeria and the sector as a whole will rise to the occasion and ensure that it builds on the existing capacities and continue to improve the quality and competitiveness of its product.

Let me, therefore, welcome you and urge you to move around the exhibition ground and see the existence to which the manufacturing sector can meet the desire of Nigerians for a self-reliant economy. Indeed, given the size of the Nigerian market, achieving self-reliance will not only strengthen and deepen our economy, but it will also position us to play a dominant role in the continental market.