MAN advocates policies for sustainable industrial devt

By Merit Ibe

The Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) has again emphasised the need for government to put in place policies that will enhance manufacturers competitiveness by providing enabling infrastructure at various industrial zones.

Chairman of the Apapa branch of MAN, Apostle Raphael Danilola, made the remark yesterday at the 13th edition of the business luncheon of MAN, Apapa branch, where he noted that there can be no sustainable industrial development without ease of accessing various clusters due to the state of deplorable infrastructures.

Danilola noted that the place of infrastructural development and upgrade cannot be overemphasized in any economy that desires industrial growth, especially with the “African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) steering at us in the face.

“Any initiative that would lead to a substantial ease in accessing the clusters will in no doubt contribute to ease of doing business and enhance a rejuvenated industrial megacity of our dream.”

Applauding the Lagos government on  its effort in decongesting the traffic-laden Apapa road and some bold initiative to address  infrastructural deficit, he noted that the state government should as a matter of urgency come up with initiatives that will cushion the infrastructural deficit bedevilling the  various clusters. 

He noted that the various industrial clusters contribute well to the revenue generation of the state especially the Amuwo Odofin and Apapa axis, but lamented that Apapa presently contends with poor infrastructure despite the huge businesses in the area coupled with the enormous presence of manufacturing activities.

“The activities of the non-state actors have grown in recent times as manufacturers have no choice than to part with their hard-earned resources to persons contributing nothing to our manufacturing process. We are pained and will always look up to the state government to bring an end to this ugly menace.”

He decried that these were challenging times for manufacturers with prices of input soaring higher on a daily basis with no end in sight.