Following the effects of worsening economy of Nigeria, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Rivers Government to set up the state Investment Promotion Office necessary to actualise the Federal Government’s industrialisation agenda.
The National President of MAN, Mr Otunba Meshioye, gave the charge in a speech at a two-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association for 2023, holding in Port Harcourt.
The manufacturers said that the consequences of the recent development of Federal Government reform measures, pronouncements and policies made the AGM mandatory to engage partners and government on sensitive issues.
The MAN boss identified some of the recent reforms to include the removal of fuel subsidy, structure of the interest rates and the increase in monetary policy rate.
He said “The consequences of this nature have made the annual general meeting with the theme, “Re-igniting industrialisation and entrepreneurship in South-South region”, apt and quite timely”.
Meshioye further said that the poor performance of the national economy in the last few years, which the federating states were part of, had made it imperative for the state government to appreciate the real sector’s contributions to job and wealth creation.
He said that the association applauded the Rivers Government for the improved road network across the 23 Local Government Councils and urged the government to recognise the need to harmonise taxes in the state to make it easier for the manufacturing business to prosper.
He appealed for closer relationship between MAN and the government to inspire investors’ confidence.
The MAN boss called for the transformation of the Onne Seaport to maximise the business and triple potential of the region.
He further urged the State Government to develop industrial zones and clusters with infrastructure as well as provide an enabling environment for the association to thrive saying that the development would boost the activities of the existing industries and expand job potentials.
Meshioye also urged MAN members to continue to fulfil their obligations by prompt payment of their dues and subscriptions.
Also, the Chairman, MAN Rivers/Bayelsa States, Mr Vincent Okoku, called on the Federal Government to pay special attention to the manufacturing sector, develop road, rail and waterways exports.
He pointed out that no nation would become industrialised without manufacturers association.
Speaking on the theme of the AGM, Mr. Kevin Uwaibi, said that industrialisation begets job creation, economic development, technology, infrastructure development and crime reduction in the region.
Uwaibi, who is the Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office, said that skills were needed to be put on the front burner for the South-South region to become industrialised.
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