Appointment: Industrialist should man Ministry of Industry

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kwara and Kogi States Branch has enjoined President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to address various challenges impeding the smooth operations of the manufacturing sector. To address these challenges, the association advised the president to appoint an Industrialist to head Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

According to MAN, doing so would inject more vibrant operations with a know-how and experience person in turning the industrial and manufacturing sectors of the economy around. Speaking to journalists after the luncheon and interactive session held in Ilorin, last Thursday, the association Chairperson, Princess Omolola Olobayo stated that an industrialist will enhance manufacturing activities and will proffer prompt solutions to mirage of problems in the ministry. "If sincerely the government is talking about change and want to make it effective, it must look for an Industrialist to be in-charge of the ministry. In the past, when the ministry was headed by an Industrialist, Mr. Charles Ugwu, he performed excellently and since then other Ministers after him are yet to match his achievements," she said. The chairperson however identified energy as a major hindrance to industrial development in Nigeria and appealed to the Federal Government to assist in solving the problem with a view to improving the production capacity in the manufacturing sector. Olobayo added that if the government can sort-out the electricity problems in the country, the production cost would reduce to about 40% and more people would show interest by investing in the sector. Another challenge facing the sector she noted is transportation, which has become burdensome to them. She added, "The cost of moving our goods from one location to another is becoming excessively high. For instance, loading a trailer from Lagos to Ilorin is N170,000. The Federal Government should work on the railway system so that we can have an alternative means as most of the roads are in bad conditions.”