To reduce substandard products imports, the Presidential Committee on Trade Malpractices (PCTM) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged manufacturers to intensify lobbying at the appropriate quarters.

They gave their advice in Abuja during a meeting with some manufacturing firms, where they handed over four vehicles as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS).

The companies, including SUMO Steels Limited, Aarti Steel, Olak Group, Kam Wire and Steel, presented three Toyota Hilux and one bus, to the Presidential Committee for Sharp and SON.

Chairman, PCTM, Mallam Dahiru-Ado Kurawa, said the companies’ gesture was in support of the manufacturing sector and the economy.

Kurawa, who noted that his committee is also working with other sub sectors, said all hands must be on deck for the sector to gain the required momentum needed in the country.  “I am happy to assure you that we are currently working with so many other sub sectors in a bid to understand what is happening and support local manufacturing in those sub sectors and stop the infiltration of foreign goods illegally into the economy,” he said.

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According to the PCTM boss, stakeholders in the steel sub sector need to synergise with critical agencies to ensure that what happened to textile industry, which had been hit by total collapse along with the value chain, does not befall the steel industry.

Also, the Director-General, SON, Mallam Salim Farouk, described the steel manufacturers’ gesture as a good example of cooperation, assuring the government is determined to protect the industries.

Farouk emphasised that the industries create employments, pay taxes, and add value to the nation’s economy hence the need to provide support.

He decried lack of adequate support from the industries stressing that some of the industries do not support where they ought to support.

According to him, the National Rifle Association in America always has their way when such debates about banning guns in that country because they are big lobbying organisation, urging Nigerian manufacturing to as well up their game as they are up against big lobbyists, who carry out importation of substandard goods.

“If the industries in Nigeria are together as a lobbying group, as a force in the public, to protect us as regulators, to protect the people, speak with one voice, believe me this issue of substandard goods in the market will a thing of yesterday.

“What I am appealing to the steel industry is that this is a good example of cooperation but we need to step up our cooperation. You see Chairman and I, we may have connections all the way to the top but we don’t have the wherewithal or the influence to withstand people who are already bent on breaking the rules. We are willing to work hard but we need to be supported, politically, materially, and morally” he said.

The representative of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Adeyemi Folorunsho, said the gesture was part of efforts to appreciate the good works being done by the government establishment.

Folorunsho reiterated that as an association, MAN is working not only itself, but also to improve the well-being of the nation through creation of the needed employments.