Yemisi Izuora
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has launched a strong advocacy campaign calling for disciplined implementation of the country’s industrial policy that will address critical challenges facing the sector.
The Association made particular reference to the Nigeria Industrial Policy 2025.
The policy was formally launched by the Federal Government in February 2026 as a roadmap for strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base, deepening domestic value chains and placing production, competitiveness and job creation at the center of the country’s economic strategy.
The policy further seeks greater coordination across critical enablers of industrialization, including energy, infrastructure, finance, skills, trade and innovation.
This is particularly significant because Nigeria has had industrial development frameworks in the past, but implementation gaps, policy inconsistency and weak coordination have often limited their impact. The challenge before us, therefore, is how to ensure that the new framework translates into measurable improvements in industrial performance.
Speaking during a media chat to signal the Association’s 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM), its President Otunba Francis Meshioye, though admitted that the MAN was actively engaged in the stakeholder consultation process leading to the policy, providing the perspectives and practical experiences of manufacturers, but noted that the opportunity before Manufacturers is to harness these advantages through coherent industrial policy and disciplined implementation to build an economy that produces more of what it consumes, adds greater value to its resources, and competes successfully across African and global markets.
Meshioye, noted that at its official launch, the Association welcomed the renewed emphasis on industrialization and indigenous entrepreneurship, while stressing that effective implementation must remain the defining priority.
The policy’s emphasis on value-chain development, strategic industrial sectors, infrastructure and energy alignment, skills, technology and the integration of MSMEs, provides an important framework for strengthening domestic production.
He pointed that its alignment with regional market opportunities also raises the prospect of positioning Nigeria more effectively within African value chains.
But, he added that a policy is ultimately as effective as its implementation.
For manufacturers, he noted that implementation must be reflected in factories operating more competitively, stronger local supply chains, increased investment, improved productivity, sustainable jobs and greater access to domestic and export markets.
According to him, It is against this background that we have chosen the theme of our 54th Annual General Meeting: “Leveraging National Industrial Policy to Position Nigeria as Africa’s Industrial Hub.” which he said is both timely, and yet intentional.
He said that Nigeria possesses a large market, abundant resources, entrepreneurial capacity, and significant human capital.
He also re-emphasized that manufacturing remains a fundamental pillar of every resilient economy, as it creates jobs, drives innovation, strengthens domestic value chains, and transforms local resources into national prosperity.
Meshioye also remarked that despite the complexities of today’s operating environment, Nigerian manufacturers have continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience.
According to him, However, our experience over the years has shown that sustainable industrial growth cannot rest on the resilience of manufacturers alone. It also depends on the quality of our institutions, the consistency of public policy, the availability of critical infrastructure and, importantly, effective collaboration between government and the private sector.
Throughout the year, the President noted that the MAN remained steadfast in its advocacy mandate, engaging policymakers, regulators and other stakeholders on issues critical to the competitiveness and sustainability of Nigerian manufacturing.
Unfortunately the operating environment has remained challenging, he said citing high production and energy costs, limited access to affordable finance, infrastructure deficits, inflationary and exchange-rate pressures, among other structural constraints which continued to affect manufacturers.
He said “Developments in the global economy and continuing geopolitical tensions have also reinforced the need for Nigeria to strengthen its domestic productive capacity and reduce vulnerabilities arising from excessive dependence on external supply chains.”
He said that the Association’s advocacy has continued to emphasize macroeconomic stability, improved infrastructure, affordable long-term financing, a stable foreign exchange environment and a predictable regulatory framework.
“We have equally sustained our engagement on the implementation of Nigeria’s evolving tax framework. Working with our partners in the Organized Private Sector of Nigeria, MAN has continued constructive engagement with government to encourage clarity, consistency and legal certainty in the implementation of the reforms. We support measures that improve tax administration and strengthen fiscal sustainability, but such reforms must also promote investment, productive enterprise and the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.”