Lagos: The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for a strengthened collaboration between government entities and the manufacturing industry to develop effective policies aimed at fostering a thriving manufacturing sector in 2026. This call was made by MAN President, Mr. Francis Meshioye, during the 10th MAN Media Personality of the Year Award and Presidential Media Luncheon held in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Meshioye emphasized the importance of involving all relevant stakeholders in policy-making processes affecting the manufacturing sector, cautioning that inadequate engagement could lead to weakened policy outcomes. He stressed that policies should aim to drive growth, innovation, and competitiveness, with government agencies serving as facilitators for ease of doing business rather than as obstacles.
Mr. Meshioye highlighted the persistent challenges faced by manufacturers in 2025, such as infrastructure deficits, multiple taxation, onerous regulations, and deep-rooted structural bottlenecks. These issues, he noted, highlight the fragile operating environment for manufacturers. The Manufacturers CEOs’ Confidence Index, a measure of the sector’s sentiment, dropped to 53.2 percent in the first quarter of 2025, down from 56.0 percent in the last quarter of 2024, reflecting the challenging macroeconomic environment.
Despite these challenges, the manufacturing sector demonstrated resilience, with improvements noted in capacity utilization, exports, and economic contribution. Capacity utilization increased to 61.3 percent from 57.6 percent at the end of 2024, while the export value rose to N978.53 billion in the third quarter of 2025. Manufacturing’s GDP contribution averaged 8.36 percent in the third quarter of 2025, up from 8.24 percent in 2024, showing positive output growth throughout the year.
Looking forward, Mr. Meshioye projected a positive economic outlook for 2026, with anticipated manufacturing growth of 3.1 percent and the sector expected to contribute over 10 percent to GDP. MAN’s advocacy will focus on areas such as capital expenditure, affordable energy, long-term finance, policy consistency, restrained taxation, and promoting Made-in-Nigeria products. He reiterated the centrality of manufacturing to job creation, exports, and fiscal sustainability, stating that a thriving manufacturing sector is key to Nigeria’s prosperity.
MAN Director-General, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, highlighted the necessity of inward-looking economic strategies in response to changing global dynamics, emphasizing industrialization as a pathway to sustainable national growth. He also underscored the media’s role in shaping national discourse, urging a focus on rigorous analysis and investigative reporting.
The event also celebrated journalistic achievements, with the News Agency of Nigeria’s Principal Correspondent, Ms. Rukayat Abu, winning the MAN Media Personality of the Year Award (Online) for 2025.