Abuja: The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for urgent tax harmonization, improved infrastructure, reliable energy supply, and a predictable regulatory environment to strengthen the country’s manufacturing sector. The association made the call at the 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of its Ogun Branch in Abeokuta.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the meeting, themed ‘Building a Resilient Manufacturing Sector: Surmounting the Challenges of Fiscal and Regulatory Policies and Tariffs,’ addressed key issues affecting the manufacturing sector. The President of MAN, Mr. Francis Meshioye, emphasized that manufacturers have borne the brunt of economic reforms introduced over the past three years, resulting in rising production costs, declining investments, and increasing operational pressure on businesses nationwide.
Meshioye highlighted the importance of predictable fiscal policies, smart regulation, affordable energy, improved infrastructure, access to single-digit interest loans, and p
rotection against unfair imports as critical to repositioning the sector. He urged all tiers of government to ensure that taxes, levies, and tariffs remain predictable, while regulatory agencies should support industrial growth rather than focus primarily on revenue generation.
Despite securing concessions on safety audit fees and facilitating engagements on water abstraction charges and environmental compliance, Meshioye noted that multiple taxation and poor industrial roads still require urgent intervention. He called for sustained public-private dialogue, harmonization of regulatory requirements, and the rehabilitation of industrial roads in Agbara, Ota, and Sagamu.
The outgoing Chairman of MAN, Ogun Branch, Mr. George Onafowokan, echoed concerns about the increasingly difficult operating environment due to exchange rate volatility, inflation, rising energy costs, high interest rates, and multiple taxation. He explained that unreliable electricity supply and rising tariffs have forced manufacturers to re
ly heavily on self-generated power, significantly raising production costs and reducing the competitiveness of locally manufactured products.
Onafowokan commended the Ogun Government for its investments in infrastructure, security, and business reforms, noting that these initiatives have sustained the state’s status as a preferred industrial hub. He appealed to Gov. Dapo Abiodun to institutionalize consultations with MAN before introducing policies affecting businesses and urged the state to revive its quarterly engagement platform with the organized private sector.
In response, Gov. Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, assured manufacturers that the state government is engaging relevant stakeholders to harmonize sub-national charges and eliminate multiple taxation. Sofela added that the government would review concerns regarding environmental fees and enforcement procedures while encouraging industries to maintain environmental standards and respo
nsible waste management.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director of Technical Services, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Basheer Abdulkadir, stated that the Federal Government recognizes manufacturing as critical to economic transformation. Abdulkadir outlined key government reforms aimed at improving the business climate, including the Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC), the National List under the Common External Tariff, the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, and the National Single Window Project.
Abdulkadir assured manufacturers that the government would continue to balance trade liberalization with protection for strategic industries through the Import Adjustment Tax, the AfCFTA Exclusion List, and the Import Prohibition List. He urged manufacturers to prepare for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by enhancing competitiveness, understanding trade rules, and investing in technology and local value chains. Increased patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products, he said, w
ill boost domestic industries, create jobs, conserve foreign exchange, and promote sustainable economic growth.