The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Federal Government to enact the Nigeria First Policy into law to strengthen the manufacturing sector.
Speaking at the 2025 BusinessDay Manufacturing Conference in Lagos on Thursday, MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, emphasized that officially gazetting the policy would ensure its consistent implementation across all levels of government and the private sector.
The ‘Nigeria First’ policy requires federal ministries, departments, and agencies to give priority to locally manufactured goods in their budget spending.
Ajayi-Kadir noted that with the manufacturing sector already weighed down by high interest rates, making the policy legally binding would provide much-needed support.
He recommended: “Enact the Nigeria First Policy as a binding law, with penalties for non-compliance. This is essential to give the policy legal force, ensure transparency, raise public awareness, and guarantee enforcement across both government bodies and the private sector.”
Ajayi-Kadir cautioned that without a solid legal foundation, the Nigeria First Policy could suffer the same fate as previous executive orders 003 and 005, which failed to deliver meaningful results.
He added, “Nigeria must take this opportunity to revitalise its manufacturing sector by prioritising locally made products. If we neglect our own, we’ll remain dependent on others.”
Meanwhile, the Director-General of MAN drew attention to the significant challenges facing manufacturers, disclosing that 767 manufacturing companies closed in 2023, leading to the loss of over 18,000 jobs in 2024.
He pointed out that rising operational costs, inconsistent policies, deteriorating infrastructure, and a weakening currency have brought the sector to the verge of collapse.
Meanwhile, MAN called on the government to address the $2.4 billion in outstanding foreign exchange forwards, roll back the 15 per cent hike in port charges by the Nigerian Ports Authority, and eliminate the previously applied but now suspended four per cent Free on Board levy on exports.
Ajayi-Kadir also urged the expedited completion of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, noting that it could add 3.6 GW to the national grid and significantly ease the energy burden on manufacturers.
