The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to implement urgent, coordinated interventions to transition Nigeria from an import-dependent economy to a globally competitive domestic manufacturing hub.
Speaking at a national workshop organized by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in Lagos, MAN Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir—represented by the Assistant Director of Research and Economic Policy, Mrs. Oluyinka Omojolaibi—warned that heavy reliance on imported goods, machinery, and technology poses severe risks to both national security and economic stability.
MAN noted that while Nigeria boasts Africa’s largest manufacturing employment sector with an estimated 12.76 million jobs, its manufacturing output and productivity lag significantly behind continental peers. For instance, comparative data from 2025 indicated that Nigeria’s manufacturing value-added stood at $24.01 billion (roughly 8.26% of its GDP), trailing far behind Egypt at $52.96 billion and South Africa at $52.35 billion. Furthermore, Nigeria’s capacity utilization lingered at 59.5%, lower than Morocco (81%), South Africa (76%), and Egypt (70.5%).
The association highlighted that persistent structural hurdles—such as unreliable electricity, high interest rates, multiple taxation, expensive imported inputs, and rising transportation costs—continue to constrict factory growth. In 2025 alone, manufacturers reportedly spent over ₦1.34 trillion on alternative power generation, with energy expenses accounting for more than half of their operating overheads. To achieve genuine industrial self-sufficiency, MAN urged stakeholders to improve access to affordable finance, invest in technical education, boost infrastructure, and promote robust technology transfer rather than mere equipment importation.
Echoing these sentiments, NOTAP Director of Technology Transfer Registration, Jonas Nzeagwu, emphasized the need for stricter standards enforcement, improved quality management, and targeted export diversification beyond crude oil to include pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and digital services.
He stressed that achieving competitive domestic production requires collaborative inputs from all tiers of government, financial institutions, private enterprises, and educational bodies.