By HEKMOT-OLASENI ALAKIJA

Stakeholders in the manufacturing sector have called for policy consistency, affordable electricity and improved infrastructure to drive production, investment and industrial growth.

They made the call on Tuesday at the 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Lagos.

The President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, identified high energy costs, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to finance, regulatory bottlenecks and smuggling as major challenges confronting manufacturers.

Meshioye urged the government to prioritise locally manufactured goods in public procurement, strengthen border controls to curb smuggling and harmonise regulations to eliminate duplication and reduce production costs.

Mrs Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, represented by a director in the ministry, Mr Segun Alugba, said manufacturing remained a major driver of employment and economic growth.

Alugba said the sector grew by 3.29 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, stressing the need for sustained reforms to consolidate the growth.

He said Lagos State’s Industrial Policy and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offered opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to access finance, skills and technology while expanding into African markets through competitive production.

Also, Mr Thomas Osobu, Chairman, MAN Ikeja Branch, called for consistent and predictable government policies to stimulate investment, productivity and sustainable industrial development.

Osobu said manufacturers continued to contend with foreign exchange volatility, rising energy costs, multiple taxation, logistics bottlenecks and an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

He said well-designed and consistently implemented reforms would attract investment, promote innovation, create jobs, boost exports and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base.

Osobu urged manufacturers to remain united and engage actively in policy discussions and advocacy to improve the ease of doing business and increase local production.

Mrs Temitope George, Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC), said electricity, a critical production input, has direct implications for operating costs, equipment performance, product pricing, competitiveness and investment decisions.

George acknowledged manufacturers’ concerns over tariffs, billing, power quality and reliability, assuring that LASERC would strengthen monitoring of electricity licensees and promote a transparent electricity market.

Stakeholders congratulated MAN on its 59th anniversary and pledged stronger collaboration with the government to create an enabling environment for sustainable industrialisation. (NAN)

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