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Nigeria’s economy under
presure -- MAN chairman
By ADBULLAHI BABA ALAWUSA
THE Nigerian economy has remained under pressure despite the economic
empowerment and development measures put in place by the federal government
to enhance the efficiency, sustainable growth and poverty reduction at all
levels of government.
Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Sharada/Challawa
branches, Kano, Alhaji Ali S. Madugu, made the assertion last Thursday at
the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Royal Tropicana
Hotel, Kano.
Alhaji Madugu who explained that this year’s AGM was aimed at among others,
appraising the performance of manufacturing sector also harped on the need
for support and cooperation between the state government and the organized
private sector for the overall economic development of the state.
The chairman chastised the federal government’s policy thrust as reflected
in the 2006 budget which he tagged “shiggish” as according to him,
“unemployment continued to be high in the country”, lamenting that out of
the most active stocks published in 2006, only four are manufacturing firms.
He said, “the responsibility of government is to provide the necessary
infrastructure and enabling environment for industrial activities, and the
role of private sector on the other hand is to complement the effort of
government by providing employment, produce goods and services that will
expectedly raise the standard of living of the people”.
Alhaji Madugu however expressed his satisfaction and appreciation to the
state government for the relentless efforts it is making in the area of
construction and rehabilitation of roads.
“This will go along way in easing accessibility to industries and onward
movement of goods and services to the local market”, he said.
He also commended the state government for its untiring effort to provide
basic amenities like the Tamburawa water works which when completed will
ease the water problem which has been a major source of worry and concern in
the state.
On the issue of power supply, the MAN chairman said electricity power
supply, which is the backbone of industrial growth, is the biggest threat to
manufacturers in the state, adding that at the beginning of this year, there
was a serious power failure, which resulted in the closure of many
industries.
He however gave kudos to the state government for the signing of Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) between Kano state and a leading company in Malaysia
in an effort to get an independent power supply.
According to the chairman, other problems bedeviling the manufacturing
sector include double or multiple taxation and illegal roadblocks by both
state and local government officials as this has scared away many investors
from the state.
He said, another big problem worrying industrialists in the state is the
issue of dumping and smuggling of inferior and substandard contraband
textile and other materials from East Asia.
Commenting on the recently awarded contract of rehabilitation and upgrading
of the Nigeria railway between the federal government and a Chinese firm,
the MAN chairman said it is a welcome development as it is hoped to reduce
the cost of transporting goods and urged the state government to put extra
effort to see to the realization of the project.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 2006