The federal government’s recent decision to lift the ban on 43 items on foreign exchange restriction earlier imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) will not augur well for the nation’s industry and the economy as a whole.
The Vice Chairman of Basic Metal, Iron and Steel Products sector of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN) Lekan Adewoye, raised the alarm while featuring on a TVC Business Programme.
He totally condemned the new CBN policy stressing that it is capable of collapsing many industries very soon.
Adewoye who vehemently disagreed with the new policy from the apex bank noted that, “The news came as a surprise to manufacturers who are still struggling to stay in business,.
“CBN did not ban the importation of these items in 2015, the apex bank only put a restriction on the importation of these items.
“For items that can be produced in Nigeria, such manufacturer ought to be encouraged. This directive will further kill the manufacturing industry that is already struggling to survive.
“The problem is about policy somersaults, some of our members who have outrightly invested in backward integration will now start to regret this move because everyone who can assess FOREX will claim to be an importer, forcing sincere manufacturers to close shop and increasing the numbers of jobless persons.”
“Nigerian manufacturers don’t really have any competitive advantage over those in other developing countries, at best, what you have is competitive parity, because something has to be an advantage if your competitors don’t have it.”
He expressed regrets that the little incentive that government has provided has been eroded by the new directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Speaking further on why manufacturers are leaving the country, Adewoye said: “Lack of consultation.
“I can speak for manufacturers because we always try our best to engage the government on some critical issues and decisions, but when some of these decisions are being taken, manufacturers are not being consulted.
“Even when the 43 items were put on the restriction list, there was no consultation. It was just at the end of the day, we felt that to a reasonable extent, the decision were in the interest of manufacturers…
“But there were a couple of items on that list, that some manufacturers use at that time, some of those manufacturers were also affected and government is taking a decision to remove the entire items on that list without proper consultation with MANto even have an idea of what effect will this have on their businesses.
“I want to assure you that many industries will shutdown very soon and this will lead to lost of jobs and insecurity will be alarming in the country.
“Nigeria has all it needs to produce Iron Rods and other items on this list, opening up the market will be a disincentive to manufacturers that continue to put their resources and investment into growing the industry.”
He urged the Nigerian authorities to quickly reverse the new directive in order to save the nation from looming job crisis, insecurity and outright collapse of the nation’s economy.
On the country’s projection and outlook for manufacturers, Adewoye urged the federal government, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs) to carry manufacturers along in decision making and policy formulation.
“With the full support of government, manufacturing sector will improve in capacity, create more jobs and ultimately support government in the actualization of an industrialized nation.”
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