The Honourable Minister Of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, while delivering his keynote address during the recent 4th edition of the Nigeria Manufacturing And Equipment Expo 2019 (NMEE) held at Landmark event center in Lagos said Government is committed to enabling the private sector to operate at its optimum capacity in the manufacturing sub-sector of the economy by creating an attractive environment for better collaboration between the public and private sector.
Fashola noted that the event must be viewed by all as a great enabler towards awakening the consciousness of manufacturing in our country which is fundamental to the development and prosperity of our nation. “I commend the efforts of the organizers for providing this platform for positive interaction by actors in the manufacturing sector which has the potential of reinvigorating the Nigerian economy and diversifying our over reliance on oil as the major FOREX source.”
“The promotion of manufacturing in Nigeria is high on the agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration. This informed the flagship policy of the Federal Government known as the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which focuses on:
- Stimulating growth in the economy;
- Investing in the Nigerian people; and
- Making the economy globally competitive.
In so doing, former Lagos state governor said, the Federal Government will enable private sector investment to drive the economy while playing a regulatory role with focus on removing constraints and bottlenecks to growth and enterprise.
Minister disclosed that the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government in a bid to create an enabling environment for manufacturing and other businesses has intensified activities in the provision of basic infrastructure such as Roads, Power generation, Rail lines and Water.
“Improved transport infrastructure is expected to improve the time and cost of access to raw materials/finished goods and ensure wider market for the sale of manufactured products. However, being aware that public funds are not adequate to provide the desired level of infrastructure due to other competitive demands on public resources, policies have been put in place to encourage the private sector to partner with the Federal Government in the provision of these critical infrastructure.
“The Federal Government’s focus on previously comatose road projects on major arterial routes like the Enugu-Port Harcourt Highway, Apapa-Oworonshoki Highway, Lagos-Ibadan Highway, Kano-Maiduguri Highway, Lokoja-Benin Highway and Kaduna Eastern By pass to mention a few is not accidental; it is targeted at increasing manufacturing capacity and national productivity. Such projects are now making steady progress towards early completion.
“The National Housing Programme currently on-going with about 3,000 units of houses being built in the 34 States of the Federation and the FCT, Abuja is being supplied using locally manufactured building materials as a conscious national policy to support local manufacturing.
“The eligible customer policy initiated by Government to provide steady power to heavy consumers already has many manufacturing concerns listed as beneficiaries and applicants.
The Minister with three ministry combined revealed that the commitment of the Buhari Administration to “made-in-Nigeria” is an all embracing and multi-sectoral pursuit. In the same way that it affects Agriculture and local content in manpower development in construction, so does it seek to unleash a manufacturing resolution in Nigeria, added he.
Fashola told the stakeholders at event that from providing power to the small manufacturers in Ariaria Market in Aba, to ensuring that the interests of manufacturers are protected before we sign the African Free Trade Agreement, it is clear that the Buhari Government means business about manufacturing.
“The recent directive to strengthen local production of textiles is further proof if any is still needed.”
The Caption Photo: President Muhammadu Buhari and Honourable Minister Of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola
