MAN’s DG addresses infrastructure challenges facing industrialization in Nigeria at 9th Lagos PR Stakeholders’ Conference

MINA Blog- The Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Mr Segun Jayi-Kadir, on Thursday identified infrastructure gap as one of the key issue facing proper industrialization in Nigeria.

 

He delivered a paper on the topic: “Poverty eradication in Nigeria: Bridging the infrastructure gap for proper industrialization” at the 9th Lagos Public Relations Stakeholders’ Conference on leadership and Poverty Eradication.

 

According to him, the topic is apt considering that poor infrastructure condition has remained a core challenge limiting the progress of industrialization with negative trickle-down effects on the wellbeing of Nigerians.

 

The DG who was represented by the Director Corporate Communications, Mr Ambrose Oruche, explained that “global indicators and national statistics have indisputably placed Nigeria within the poverty bracket. This is evidenced by the prevailing hardship that Nigerians go through, which clearly corroborate these statistics. Unfortunately, with the limited capacity of the economy to create jobs, unemployment has remained high, leading to even greater poverty.”

He added that “Global experience shows that industrialization is the leeway out of poverty. Industrialization leads to diversified large-scale production for domestic and industrial consumption as well as export which catalyzes economic growth and per capita income. Of course, there are evidences that per capita income is very high in industrialized nation, which strongly reflect on their wellbeing.”

 

The noted that the country must make deliberate effort in bridging the infrastructure gap facing industrialization in the country.

“Regrettably, industrialization in Nigeria which is still an aspiration has been difficult to achieve due to various daunting challenges including infrastructure gap. No doubt, sound support infrastructure is sine-qua-non for industrialization. Without adequate electricity supply to the industries, sound rail and road networks to move commodities, functional ports equipment for swift clearance of raw materials and machines, including other non-infrastructure requisites such liberal funds and forex, autonomous investments that will provide the big push etc, the industrialization aspiration of the country may become a mirage.”

“To drive industrial progress will drastically reduce the poverty level in the country through the creation of significant high paying jobs” he said.

 

He recommend that the Government should, Upscale electricity generation to 10000MW, support significant development of energy mix and review the gas price for domestic consumption to be in tandem with the export price which is about $3.25 per cubic metre;

 

“Invest significantly in ports infrastructure including scanners to improve time taken to clear machines and raw-materials while making the link road accessible

“Publish the list of approved harmonized taxes and levies for the manufacturing sector by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) to address the issues of multiples taxes and levies;

“Incentivize investment in local development of raw materials and create industrial clusters/incubation centers for start-ups;

“Support entrepreneurship development through appropriate funding and training on the right suite of skills;

“Strengthen the health sector by increasing the budgetary allocation to the sector to improve human contribution to national development

“Encourage and promote vocational training in the secondary and tertiary institutions on electrical, electronics, mechatronics, plumbing, tiling, mechanic, building, welding, etc

“Resuscitate and strengthen existing Government research institutions that are relevant to industrialization, such as Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan; Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan; National Centre for Energy Research and Development, Nsukka; National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria; Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Emene; etc.

“Develop sound IT and entertainment infrastructure support system to further create employment opportunities for Nigerians

“Allow industrial policies in the country to gestate with proper monitoring and evaluation procedures

“Give significant attention to protecting the industrial areas; the use of satellite transmission, CCTV camera, drones and well-motivated security personnel to reduce the level of insecurity to the barest minimum.”

Other speakers at the event include; Prof Umar Garbar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission; The Founder and Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu; Sheila Ojei, Director Strategy, Funding and Stakeholders Management, LSETF; The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State, Mrs Cecilia Bolaji Dada and Dr Oluseye Ajuwon, Economist and Consultant, University of Lagos.

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