The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)

  • Oyo renews commitment to attract more investors

    Oyo renews commitment to attract more investors

    Oyo State Government has renewed its commitment towards sustaining its synergy with the private sector in the provision of enabling environment to further attract local and foreign investors.

    ‘Oyo now more business-friendly’, the state Commissioner for Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperatives, said this at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN ) End-of-the-Year Get Together on Thursday night in Ibadan.

    The commissioner also commended the collaborative effort of the private sector in the state at boosting the economy.

    “Oyo State has become a haven for both local and foreign investors as a result of the massive infrastructure development.

    “Gov. Abiola Ajimobi’s administration in the state has evolved various initiatives and policies in the areas of security, investment promotion and environmental development.

    “All these culminated into influx of investors as well as the sustainable peace and security enjoyed in the state today,’’ she said.

    In another development, Chief Kola Akosile, the Zonal Chairman of MAN, has said that the Nigerian economy is steadily improving as the nation officially exits the recession in the outgoing year.

    Akosile made the statement in an interview in Ibadan.

    “The Nigerian economy has not been too friendly with our operations in the last few years as manufacturers but we thank God things are improving gradually.

    “Officially the country is out of recession and we are gradually feeling the impact. We pray that next year would be much better than the outgoing year,’’ he said.

    Read also: ‘Oyo now more business-friendly’

    Akosile said multiple-taxation was the major challenge facing his members, noting the pressure several agencies on the issue.

    “Several agencies come to disturb our members but we are trying to harmonise. We believe that Public Private Partnership ( PPP ) is good for economic development.

    “It would increase our capacity and government’s revenue. We believe that working closely would avail government the opportunity to achieve their aims.’’

    He also said that the association was evolving a strategy to reduce the members’ over-dependence on the epileptic public power supply, including the establishment of MAN Electricity Company that would enhance their operations.

    The chairman said that the association was also planning to free enough power for household use from confined power, for various industrial clusters in the zone made up of Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.

    “Our members are beginning to have clusters to generate power for themselves without relying too much on government. If we rely too much on government, it won’t get us anywhere,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Effective border control will promote Made-In-Nigeria goods – Osinbajo

    Effective border control will promote Made-In-Nigeria goods – Osinbajo

    …Seeks stringent penalties against smuggling

     

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said that the Federal Government is partnering with neighbouring countries to ensure that Nigeria’s porous borders are better policed to tackle smuggling and the influx of counterfeit products into the country.

    Prof. Osinbajo said that this will further promote the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products and boost the country’s manufacturing sector.

    He made the remark when a delegation of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) paid him a visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    MAN, led by its President, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs, presented the Vice President a report on its advocacy campaign for patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products.

    Speaking further on the issue of checking smuggling and counterfeit products, the Vice President said certain sections of the laws should be amended to attract stringent monetary penalties for defaulters, which would serve as deterrent and also to protect the quality of goods in the country.

    Osinbajo, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said “More importantly, the whole issue is that we are able to police the borders. Last week we had discussions with all the agencies connected; including the Customs, the Minister of Internal Affairs, NPA, and we were looking at how we can work with our neighbours, especially the Benin Republic, and our neighbours also in the North, to police our borders as much as we can,”

    The Vice President reiterated that the major focus of the Buhari’s administration’s Ease of Doing Business reforms was to increasing patronage for locally manufactured goods, as well as to create an enabling environment for the private sector and businesses in the country to thrive.

    He said, “The whole point of the Executive Order on promoting “Made-in-Nigeria” products was to set the ball rolling, to create an environment for this sort of initiative, and I am extremely grateful to MAN for the work that it has done in bringing this to the fore.”

    The Vice President noted that the Federal Government will consider the request made by the association for a 35 per cent margin of preference for Made-in-Nigeria products for government procurement.

    “I think that, in this particular case, the 35 per cent threshold is entirely reasonable. We should be able to do better than that in terms of driving government procurement,” Prof Osinbajo said, adding that the country has a huge market for locally manufactured products, especially in the textile and footwear industries. He further said that government has ordered some of these products for the military and other uniformed agencies of government

    Speaking earlier, the President of MAN noted that the association’s advocacy campaign was not only aimed at improving the patronage of locally manufactured products by Nigerians, but to also help create more jobs for Nigerians in the local manufacturing sector by reducing imports.

  • ‘Nigeria must not back Morocco’s admittance into ECOWAS’

    ‘Nigeria must not back Morocco’s admittance into ECOWAS’

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has opposed moves by Morocco to be admitted into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    MAN, at its 45th annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos yesterday, warned the Federal Government against supporting Morocco.

    It noted that the admission of the North African country will be disastrous for Nigeria.

    Speaking through its President, Frank Udemba Jacobs, MAN noted that admitting Morocco into ECOWAS would be equivalent to signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

    Jacobs said: “We urge the Federal Government to oppose the move as it would spell doom for the productive sector of the economy.

    “We are aware Morocco and the European Union (EU) have a trade agreement, which means if it becomes part of ECOWAS, products that come into Morocco from EU will end up in Nigeria. After all, Nigeria is the biggest market in ECOWAS.

    “So, we oppose Morocco being admitted into ECOWAS. It will affect us. We are telling our government not to allow it become part of ECOWAS…

    “Come to think of it: why should it be part of ECOWAS? Morocco is too far. ECOWAS is Economic States of West African States, but Morocco is not part of West Africa. It shouldn’t be part of ECOWAS.”

    While lauding the Federal Government for introducing policies to stimulate the economy, MAN outlined three key challenges to be addressed for the productive sector to boom.

    He listed them as inadequate and unstable power; unavailability of foreign exchange for importation; and high interest rates.

    Jacobs said with double-digit interest rates, the economy will continue to decline. “We recommend, as the association has done in the past and always, a single-digit interest rate.”

    The Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) also called on the Nigeria to resist attempts by member countries of ECOWAS to admit Morocco into the regional body.

    Founding Chairman and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignatius C. Olisemeka warned that Morocco’s motive was political, aimed at whittling down Nigeria’s role in the admission of Western Sahara into the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

    The association however wondered why the Federal Government has not engaged in a campaign against Morocco’s move.

  • Amosun tasks manufacturers on payment of taxes

    Amosun tasks manufacturers on payment of taxes

    Gov. lbikunle Amosun of Ogun on Friday urged manufacturers to pay their taxes regularly to facilitate rapid development of the state.

    Amosun, represented by Mr Bimbo Ashiru, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, made the plea at the 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Ota, Ogun,.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AGM had the theme “Developing a Workable Work Plan for Environmental Sustainability – Cost Implication, Benefits and Drawbacks.’’

    “We can all imagine what the state will look like in terms of infrastructural development if all companies in Ogun pay their taxes,’’ he said.

    “There is the need for manufacturers to consistently remit their taxes so that government can provide enabling environment like good roads and other amenities in the state.

    “The infrastructure will encourage businesses to thrive,’’ he said.

    Amosun promised that all the roads being rehabilitated in the state would be completed before the end of his administration.

    He commended the manufacturers for their efforts toward industrialisation of the state.

    “Industrialisation plays a critical role in national development and in eradicating unemployment and poverty in the country.

    “There is a need for manufacturers to regularly come to the association’s quarterly meetings because that is the only channel through which your complaints can get to the government.’’

    He reiterated that his administration was committed to supporting MAN and new investors to move the state forward positively.

    Mr Wale Adegbite, the MAN Chairman, Ogun Chapter, said that there was an urgent need to strengthen the real sector by removing all obstacles restraining its growth and competitiveness.

    Adegbite identified some impediments that had marred economic activities in the sector to include multiple taxation, dearth of foreign exchange for manufacturers, and epileptic power supply.

    He listed other as the relatively high lending rates by banks, non availability of local inputs and bad roads.

    “The scarcity and high cost of sourcing for forex as well as higher interest rate by the nation’s financial institutions made it difficult for manufacturers to bring in their raw materials.

    “This has resulted in decline in production and profit margins, huge layoffs, salary reduction and factory closure,” the MAN chairman said.

    Adegbite said that the harsh economic environment characterised by all these factors was discouraging further investment and constituted impediments to the sector’s competitiveness.

    “We urge the Federal Government to make forex available for manufacturers, grant tax incentives and rebates to ease the economic burden and to attract further investments,” he said.

    The MAN chairman said that the ability of the Federal Government to tackle those challenges would enable the sector to be optimally productive.

    He said that government’s intervention in these areas would enable the sector to play its expected role of employment generation, capital mobilisation and wealth creation, among others.

  • LCCI calls for faithful implementation of ERGP

    Mr. Muda Yusuf, the Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), on Monday called for faithful implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    Yusuf told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the plan would help to stop policy uncertainties.

    He said that the plan would also boost investors’ confidence in the economy as it had made clear the direction of the government.

    “You know that a number of Nigerians have complained that they did not know the economic direction of the government.

    “The Economy Recovery and Growth Plan has shown what the government policies are.

    “This will help to enhance the confidence of foreign and local investors.

    “Also the good thing about the plan is that foreign investors will be encouraged to bring in more funds into the country”.

    The LCCI boss said that the plan had a delivery unit to monitor its implementation.

    “We have had similar plans in the past, but implementation had always been the problem.

    “So, one good thing about the plan is the clear expression about its implementation,” he said.

    Yusuf advised government to ensure proper coordination of fiscal, monetary and trade policies as important elements of the plan.

    He expressed optimism that the plan would have positive effects on foreign exchange market and makes it market driven.

    “It is important and of interest to monitor how fast this can be delivered because it will bring normalcy to the foreign exchange management and also address challenges in the market”.

    Mr. Wale Adegbite, the Chairman of Ota Branch of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), also urged that the plan should be well implemented.

    Adegbite said that nothing could be said yet about the plan until the implementation stage.

    He said that the era of non-implementation of policies had gone and called for full implementation for the success of the policy.

    “It is one thing to have a plan and another is to implement it.

    “It is only at the point of implementation that we can assess the policy.

    “At this stage, we can only urge the government to ensure that the policy achieved its target.

    “Like I said, they are all good intentions and they are all achievable once they put their minds into it,” Adegbite said.

     

  • MAN to CBN: Reduce interest rate

    MAN to CBN: Reduce interest rate

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Monday said retaining the Monitory Policy Rate (MPR) at 14 per cent by the apex bank would negate growth of manufacturing sector.

    Mr Frank Jacobs, President, MAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the 14 per cent MPR would not boost domestic production.

    The MAN president also said that maintaining the present rate would prevent the manufacturing sector from coping with the current recession.

    The Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, had announced MPC decision to retain the MPR at 14 per cent at the end of its two-day meeting last week.

    Apart from retaining the MPR at 14 per cent, the CBN governor said the committee also voted to retain the Cash Reserves Ratio at 22.5 per cent.

    “We had taught that reducing the rates will enable banks to reduce percentage of getting loans to inject into the manufacturing sector to reflate the economy.

    “However, with the present circumstance, many domestic producers will be struggling to keep their businesses as a going concern and will not make profits.

    “As a result of the recession, most manufacturers will want to shed down workers, which will have negative social implication for the country,’’ he said.

    The MAN president urged the apex bank to reduce the interest rates in its next monitory policy meeting to ensure growth in the manufacturing sector.

    “It is only when rates are brought down that the manufacturers will be able to sustain and expand their businesses, even during recession,’’ he said.

    Jacob said that with appropriate incentives, the manufacturing sector could cause an economic turnaround for the country

     

  • Trump: Nigeria may get less grants, aids from US – MAN

    Trump: Nigeria may get less grants, aids from US – MAN

    The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr Frank Jacobs, says the United States of America may reduce support in terms of grants and aids to Nigeria considering the conservative orientation of the Republicans.

    Jacobs told on Wednesday in Abuja that it was rather early to predict what the economic outlook of Nigeria would be in respect to the U.S. election.

    “It is likely that the country may receive less material, moral and political support.

    “Policies and programmes of the Republican government might also not be favourable to some Nigerian illegal immigrants, based on the campaign speeches of the President-elect, “Jacobs said.

    Jacobs said that such immigrants, especially non-professionals, would be a burden on the country when they return.

    According to him, Nigerians have contributed to the building of the American economy over the years, adding that Nigerian professionals had been making waves in the US.

    “If such professionals return to Nigeria, they will help to develop the country in various professions.

    “Their activities may also help to salvage the nation from the current recession and build a virile economy, ” he added.

    During his campaign, U.S. President-elect, Donald Trump, had taken a swipe at political leaders in Africa on account of the level of corruption and economic backwardness on the continent.

    Trump said African leaders were bad examples for leadership and recommended that the continent be re-colonised.

    “In my opinion, most of these African countries ought to be recolonised for another 100 years, because they know nothing about leadership and self-governance.

  • NAFDAC, SON, others hail La Casera for keeping standards

    NAFDAC, SON, others hail La Casera for keeping standards

    NAFDAC, SON, others hail La Casera for keeping standards

    The National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commended the La Casera Company Plc for maintaining a high quality standard in the production of Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD) in Nigeria.

    Similarly, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) praised the beverage company for its full compliance with regulations regarding food and beverage manufacturing processes in the country.

    In his keynote speech, the Managing Director of the La Casera Company, Mr. Roland Ebelt, expressed the company’s delight at the factory inspection and noted that the visit would afford the company the opportunity to showcase its upgraded world class production lines.

    Ebelt said he was pleased that NAFDAC, MAN and SON executives visited the plant to witness the high premium it places on producing innovative products, maintaining high quality products and its high security measures put in place to protect members of staff.

    Also speaking, the Director-General of the NAFDAC,  Mrs. Yetunde Oni expressed great delight at the level of compliance and strict adherence to modern food and beverage production guidelines.

    Mrs Oni, who was represented by the Special Assistant, Mr William Effiok, after the tour of La Casera production facility at Mile 2 in Lagos, also laid great emphasis on the firm’s ultra-modern production line which though covering a large expanse, and having several units such as the bottle blowing section, filling, capping and packaging units, operated under very hygienic conditions, and worked under minimal human interference, with a state-of-the-art automation process which can be compared to those operated in other developed nations around the world.

    “What we have witnessed today reaffirms La Casera’s commitment to producing a premium Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) with a product quality which satisfies all quality and safety requirement required for any beverage. Food handling and contact which happens to be a major entry point for contaminants in food processing and production, has also been grossly eliminated in La Casera’ production process, thereby making it safe, nutritious, and fit for human consumption.”

    The DG therefore urged teeming consumers to disregard misleading information in any form especially those emanating from Social media, as the product has the NAFDAC seal for quality, which implies it has been subject to thorough product check and analysis, and has been duly certified.

    Also responding after the facility tour, the Director, Product Certification, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Bayo Adigun said: “We appreciate the management team of The La Casera Company for hosting us on this visit and would like to state that this kind of partnership between regulators and manufacturers are aimed at supporting companies in making sure that they maintain their standard. We are partners and we would seek ways to protect the brand of respected companies like The La Casera Company,” he stated.

    The Acting DG, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, who was also present at the tour, appreciated the management of the La Casera Company for its doggedness even during times such as this when several companies are closing shop due to several economic reasons and in the face of limiting factors to business growth.

    He also extolled the company on its visibly huge financial investment in the food and beverage sector, and therefore encouraged them not to relent in its effort.

  • FG, UN engage private sector on Sustainable Industrial Development

    FG, UN engage private sector on Sustainable Industrial Development

    In pursuance of the commitment of the Federal Government and the United Nations (UN) to sustainable development, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), are organizing a Private Sector Engagement Workshop on Sustainable Industrial Development in Nigeria.

    The workshop seeks to engage the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in discussing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a view to stimulating strategic alignment between private sector business plans and the SDGs. This workshop, contributes to the UN’s Goal 9: ‘Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.’

    The workshop is expected to be addressed by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDGs, Hon. (Mrs.) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and the Resident Coordinator of the UN system in Nigeria, Ms Fatma Samoura, and it is scheduled to hold on Wednesday 13th April, 2016 at the Conference Hall of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) House, 77, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja Lagos.
    It will be recalled that the UN Information Centre (UNIC) had an engagement with the Civil Society partners on the Sustainable Development Goals in February.
  • Manufacturers urge Agric Minister to rescind ban on raw material

    Manufacturers urge Agric Minister to rescind ban on raw material

    Investors and members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in the agricultural sector have called on the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe to help in the reversal of forex policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The forex policy of the CBN included one of MAN’s most important raw materials, Crude Palm Oil (CPO) on the ‘not valid for forex’ list.

    Recently, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs said that forex should be made available for genuine manufacturers that use CPO as a major raw material for production of end goods such as noodles, biscuits, cosmetics, etc.

    According to him, this decision by the apex Bank has threatened the existence of several manufacturing companies who rely heavily on Crude palm oil as a major raw material for production.

    “These companies have invested heavily in plants and machinery worth several billions of dollars in the country and what the CBN is indirectly telling them is that it could not be bothered with the challenges this policy is posing to our members,” Jacobs noted.

    The manufacturers’ chief further revealed that these companies have been involved in the agricultural sector of the nation’s economy as part of their backward integration program, thereby creating more jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s ability to be self-sufficient in food, beverage and cosmetic production.

    Dr Jacobs commended the present administration for its efforts in trying to revolutionalise local industries through this policy; but stressed that there are certain indices that must be taken into consideration before full implementation of such policy.

    He explained that while the policy is a welcomed development, there should be no sudden obstruction to importation of the raw material that is needed for local production, especially when demand for such material cannot be met locally.

    According to Index Mundi, a data portal, the domestic palm oil produced in Nigeria equaled 930,000 MT in 2014. The consumption of palm oil in Nigeria amounts to 2.0 million MT per annum.

    The official figures states that the shortage in oil palm industry is estimated to be around 900,000 MT annually. This poses a very precarious situation for the manufacturing sector that depends largely on CPO as a major source of raw material.

    If this shortage is not filled with importation of high quality food grade palm oil, the economy will lose further investment in the manufacturing sector as companies would be forced to shut down and relocate their business outside the country, like it happened in the past.

    It is pertinent to note that 90.0% of crude palm oil is consumed by the food industry and the remaining 10.0% is used by the non-food industry. Food products like noodles, biscuits, vegetable oil, margarines, cereals and bakeries, depend on CPO as raw material.

    The Noodles industry alone consumes 72,000 MT of imported palm oil and the leading, domestic palm oil producers cannot meet this demand. Nigeria today produces only 1.7% of the world’s consumption of crude palm oil, which is insufficient to meet its domestic consumption that stands at 2.7% and likely to increase in coming years.

    Jacobs explained that for Nigeria to meet the shortfall in local usage of crude palm oil and be self sufficient, Nigeria needs a total plantation of 300,000 hectares of land, which presently is not available.

    He emphasized that backward integration program is a long and gradual process, and most of the major users of CPO have already embarked on huge investment in plantations across the country.

    Palm plantations takes time to come to full maturity before it can be harvested and while this process is ongoing, there must not be a total shutdown of the plants due to inability to access forex to purchase high grade CPO from foreign markets.