Encourage Regional Farmers To Increase Naira – Manufacturers to FG

TheNigerianManufacturersAssociation,orMAN,hasrequestedthattheFederalGovernmentassistlocalproducersinordertobolsterthenation’seconomyandincreaseitsvalueontheglobalstage.

ThiscameastheyapplaudedPresidentBolaAhmedTinubu’seffortstoincreaseoutputinthenation’sSoutheastthroughthe“Light-upNigeria”Project.

SpeakingattheSouthEastBusinessRoundtableinEnuguduringthelaunchoftheLight-upNigeriaProject–SouthEast,LadyAdaChukwudozie,ChairmanofMANinEnugu,Anambra,andEbonyiStates,statedthatifgovernmentatalllevelssupportedlocallymadeproducts,toencouragelocalproductionsandstimulateproductivityandemploymentamongtheyouth,thenairawouldgreatlyappreciateagainstforeigncurrenciesandtheeconomywouldbestabilized.

SenatorKashimShettima,theVicePresident,introducedtheLight-upproject,whichwasoneoftheFederalGovernment’scontinuousinitiativestoenhancetheenergysupplytoindustrialclustersthroughouttheSouthEastandthenation.

MANstatesthat“byraisingthetariffonimportedalternativesandofferingmanufacturersincentiveslikeloweringcustomstariffsonrawmaterialsandmachinery,aswellasallowingthemtoaccessdollarsfortheimplementationofrawmaterials,machinery,andequipments,theFederalGovernmentcansupportlocallyproducedgoodsanddiscourageoverdependenceonforeignproducts.” “Ifthegovernmentisabletoassistlocalproducers,promotetheconsumptionofgoodsmadelocally,andutilizetheinteractionoftaxbreaksandquotastosupporttheselocalproducers,

who are currently producing and support locally produced goods, for example those currently producing motor vehicles, if Nigeria can support them and other local producers, I think it will go a long way.

“Outside this, there is need for government to look into the tariff from Customs, especially as it concerns manufacturers.

“If it is possible, give us an incentive that is exclusive to manufacturers, so that our raw materials and machines can come in at a reduced duty.So this alone can also help engender productivity in the country.
“I want to plead that manufacturers also be considered in a way that sourcing foreign exchange will come easy for them”, Chukwudozie said.

The manufacturers expressed optimism that the Light-up South East Project would go a long way in reducing some of the challenges facing the sector in the region, described as the “commercial hub” of the nation.

Asthemanufacturers,wefacenumerousdifficulties,andthematterofpowerisoneofthemostimportantandcrucialsinceenergyiswhatpowersthesector.Ihavetoadmitthatallofthegovernorshavetakenactioninthepastregardingthis. Ithasalsobeenmentionedthattheworkthatourgovernor,HisExcellency,GovernorChukwumaCharlesSoludo,isdoinginconjunctionwithEEDCispayingoff. Furthermore,Ibelievethatothergovernorsaretakingsomeactioninthatregard. “However,wefeellikewehavenewhopebecauseofthislight-upNigeria,andwewanttoreassureyouthatwearepreparedtoworkwithyouinanycapacity,”shecontinued.

Inordertomitigatetheeffectsofadversityandincreasefoodsecurity,themanufacturersurgedthefederalgovernmenttogivefarmersimprovedseedlings,farmingimplements,andadequatesecurity.

Theyclaimedthatensuringfarmershadenoughfoodandcommoditieswouldalsosupportresource-basedindustrialization,ruralindustries,andexport-orientedindustrialization.

“Thisresource-basedproductivitywillleadtoenoughfoodandcommodityproduction,whichwillengenderexport-orientedindustrialization,ruralindustrialization,resource-basedindustrialization,andimportsubstitutionindustrializationifthegovernmentpaystrueattentiontoitby,firstofall,providingsecurityforfarmerstogototheirfarmlands,providingincentivesforthem,andprovidingfarmingimplements,”Chukwudozieemphasized.