Brand owners under the umbrella of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have called for caution from major actors, government agencies and regulators in their comments on goods manufactured in the country.
This follows the recent allegations of poor quality diesel levelled against one of the largest private investments in Africa that turned out to be untrue
Expressing serious concern, the Director-General of the Association, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said “It is expected that agencies of government, that provide regulatory oversight functions should promote an enabling business environment for local investments to thrive.
“No regulatory agency should be seen to be casting a shadow over a home-grown investment like Dangote Refinery.”
He stated that the allegations of poor quality, monopolistic tendencies and non-issuance of licence against Dangote Refinery have since been roundly debunked, saying that there may then be the need to issue a clarification that absolves Dangote Refinery of the negative perception generated by the news report.
Ajayi-Kadir further stressed that “local investors in Nigeria, particularly the Dangote Industries Limited, play a vital role in driving economic growth, they pay taxes, they create jobs and foster development within the country.
“As such, it is important that these investors are protected and given the necessary support to thrive in this business environment.”
He said a business colossus like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, with investments in diverse sectors of the economy should be accorded all needed support to grow and invest in more sectors and positively impact the well-being of the people.
According to him, the Dangote Refinery, located in Lagos, the largest single-train refinery in the world, will play a significant role in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, reducing cost and energy poverty and significantly boosting our energy sufficiency. This is also a company in which Nigeria and Nigerians are shareholders.
Ajayi-Kadir said, “We should never encourage or promote a preference for imported products over local alternatives. This amounts to importing poverty and exporting prosperity.”
He noted that the manufacturing sector is beset with multifaceted challenges, saying the Nigerian government must take proactive steps to address these binding constraints to improve the competitiveness of local industries and enhance their contribution to the GDP.
He added “Local investors are not only drivers of economic growth but also champions of national development. They are the mirrors of our national industrial aspirations and their wellbeing is the attraction for both local and foreign would-be investors.”
He pointed out that “On the other hand, supporting and protecting local investors like the Dangote Refinery, would be sending a clear signal to foreign investors to take advantage of the conducive environment and invest, thereby creating jobs and building a more prosperous future for our people.”
The Association called on the Nigerian government to prioritise the protection of local investors and actively take necessary steps to improve the operating environment for manufacturers and other economic operators to thrive.