Manufacturera

Manufacturers of  Nigeria don’t cut corners

Loveth Okoli

Mr Giandomenico Massari, Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Cross River and Akwa Ibom Branch on Thursday asserted that manufacturers in Nigeria believe in standards and quality.

Massari made the call in Calabar when the association visited the Cross River Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs Rosemary Archibong.

The chairman, also the General Manager, Danelec FZE said he was a strong advocate of local content adding that it was imperative for any nation to patronise its local content if it must boost its economy.

“I can stand here as an engineer and a manufacturer in Nigeria to say that Nigerian manufacturers are not cutting corners but believe in standards.

“We are really striving to produce better products than we import, this is because most of the times, things imported are substandard,” he said.

The chairman solicited the support of the government of Cross River to enhance manufacturing in the state and solve some of the challenges manufacturers face.

“Manufacturing in Nigeria has some challenges from scarcity of raw materials, where manufacturers are forced to utilise what is available locally and poor infrastructure.

“There is also the challenge of transportation of goods, importation of goods and the exchange rates; these are some of the challenges that raise the cost of production in Nigeria.

“It is important for the government to assist the manufacturing sector because its growth will bring a lot of benefit to the economy.

“This will have multiple benefit as workers and companies will pay taxes which will in turn ensure prosperity for the nation,” Massari said.

Similarly, Secretary of the branch, Mr Offiong Eyo in his remarks said one major challenge manufacturers in the state faced was epileptic power supply as companies are force to depend on generator.

Eyo noted that other challenges included the deplorable state of the only road that linked Cross River and Akwa Ibom and the constant harassment of member companies from government agents for all sorts of taxes.

He appealed to the government to assist the manufacturers in curbing these issues as these were some of the challenges that make production difficult in Nigeria.

Responding, Mrs Archibong thanked the association for all they have been doing in the state to boost its economy.

She, however, advised members of the association not to be comfortable with just producing for local consumption but should seriously start exploring the options of export beginning from the region through the Gulf of Guinea.

Mr Giandomenico Massari, Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Cross River and Akwa Ibom Branch on Thursday asserted that manufacturers in Nigeria believe in standards and quality.

Massari made the call in Calabar when the association visited the Cross River Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs Rosemary Archibong.

The chairman, also the General Manager, Danelec FZE said he was a strong advocate of local content adding that it was imperative for any nation to patronise its local content if it must boost its economy.

“I can stand here as an engineer and a manufacturer in Nigeria to say that Nigerian manufacturers are not cutting corners but believe in standards.

“We are really striving to produce better products than we import, this is because most of the times, things imported are substandard,” he said.

The chairman solicited the support of the government of Cross River to enhance manufacturing in the state and solve some of the challenges manufacturers face.

“Manufacturing in Nigeria has some challenges from scarcity of raw materials, where manufacturers are forced to utilise what is available locally and poor infrastructure.

“There is also the challenge of transportation of goods, importation of goods and the exchange rates; these are some of the challenges that raise the cost of production in Nigeria.

“It is important for the government to assist the manufacturing sector because its growth will bring a lot of benefit to the economy.

“This will have multiple benefit as workers and companies will pay taxes which will in turn ensure prosperity for the nation,” Massari said.

Similarly, Secretary of the branch, Mr Offiong Eyo in his remarks said one major challenge manufacturers in the state faced was epileptic power supply as companies are force to depend on generator.

Eyo noted that other challenges included the deplorable state of the only road that linked Cross River and Akwa Ibom and the constant harassment of member companies from government agents for all sorts of taxes.

He appealed to the government to assist the manufacturers in curbing these issues as these were some of the challenges that make production difficult in Nigeria.

Responding, Mrs Archibong thanked the association for all they have been doing in the state to boost its economy.

She, however, advised members of the association not to be comfortable with just producing for local consumption but should seriously start exploring the options of export beginning from the region through the Gulf of Guinea.