…calls for partnership
Calabar – National President of Manufactural Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Francis Meshioye, has called for synergy and partnership between the Federal Ministry of Works and and the South-South states to fix the deplorable roads infrastructure.
The MAN President made the call at the 16th Annual General Meeting/Public Lecture of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria MAN Cross River/Akwa-Ibom states branch with the Theme Sustaining Local Production in a challenging and Competitive Economy, the Manufacturer Perspective.
According to Otunba Francis Meshioye, the Cross River and Akwa Ibom states government should work in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure that all the Federal roads within the states are rehabilitated/reconstructed to ease movement of goods and persons.
“State Governments should ensure that all approved taxes and levies payable to the States and Local Government are harmonized and made available to the public.
“This will enable our members to know what to pay and pay accordingly. The use of touts to harass vehicles of companies on the road should be completely eradicated.
“Your Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, our host State, on behalf of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom states branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), we appeal for your administration’s support to provide land for the building of our secretariat or donate a building to be used as our secretariat here in Calabar. Esteemed members, let me re-assure you that I will continue to give priority to issues affecting the manufacturing sector. We shall continue to strive towards ensuring that Government provides the much-needed enabling environment for our huge investments to thrive and create jobs for our youths.
“This is to ensure that you do not channel their abundant energies to untoward endeavours. We continue to engage ministries, heads of government agencies and parastatals on policies that have effect on the real sector.
“On your part as members of MAN, I urge you to always fulfil your membership obligation by prompt payment of your annual subscription and completion/return of questionnaires and other data which you may be required to provide from time to time.
“Allow me to seize this opportunity to thank all the Members and Branches that participated in our 51st Annual General Meeting (AGM), which held recently on October 17th – 19th, 2023 at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lekki Expressway, Victoria Island, Lagos State. The Theme of the AGM was “Setting the Agenda for Competitive Manufacturing under the AFCFTA-What Nigeria Needs to do.
“The lecture was delivered by Dr. Olusegun Aganga, former Minister of Finance and former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I do not wish to bore you with long speeches, I therefore once again on behalf of the National Council reassure you that we shall continue to provide the right leadership, while I urge you to remain resilient even in the face of overwhelming challenges and frustrations. I salute the Branch Chairman, Council and entire Branch membership on this 16th AGM and wish us all a fruitful deliberation”.
In his welcome remarks the Cross River State/Akwa Ibom State Branch Chairman of MAN, Akin Oyediran, said the theme of the 16th (AGM) Sustaining Local Production in a Challenging Competitive Economy: the Manufacturer Perspective” was carefully chosen considering the unbearable challenges that have influence the cost of production in our respected factories.
This was necessitated by the fact that Manufacturers have continued to dwindle on the challenges of sustaining production amid the current global challenges.
He said by the foregoing, it become very imperative for us to explore alternative and sustainable measure to stay afloat.
Despite these enormous challenges we are confident that concrete efforts and through Public Private Sector Partnership a more-friendly business environment for manufacturers can be achieved, which will enhanced economic growth.
In a good will message, the Cross River State Commissioner for Industry, Dr Mathias Agioha, Commissioner for Commissioner for Commerece, Abigail Duke, said this Administration People’s First mantra remains the pledge we made to all the people of the state in the area of Security, Infrastructure, and Economy.
They disclosed that the State Government was working round the clock to put Cross River State in its pride of place in the county.
I want to use this opportunity to assure both local and International manufacturer that this Administration we will continue to provide a more enabling environment and more to these ideals in the interest of economic development of the Cross River State.
