The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to sanction Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that fail to comply with policies requiring greater patronage of locally manufactured goods.
MAN President Francis Meshioye made the call on Monday at the opening of the Made-in-Nigeria Exhibition, held as part of the association’s 54th Annual General Meeting in Lagos.
Meshioye said the government’s Executive Orders 003 and 005, alongside the Nigeria First Policy, demonstrate its commitment to strengthening domestic production. However, he said implementation and compliance by government institutions remained inadequate.
“We call on Mr. President to fast track the implementation of these orders and programmes,” he said, urging the government to ensure strict compliance.
According to him, MDAs that fail to comply with the directives should face appropriate sanctions.
MAN urges stronger local procurement
Meshioye also urged government institutions involved in upcoming national, state and local government elections to prioritise locally produced goods.
He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties and other agencies involved in the electoral process should deliberately patronise Nigerian manufacturers where suitable products are available.
The association said stronger government demand for locally manufactured products would help expand production, create jobs and strengthen domestic supply chains.
Manufacturing shows some improvement
Meshioye noted that some manufacturing indicators had improved, although significant challenges remained.
He cited real manufacturing output growth of 3.29 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 and an increase in capacity utilisation to 57.5 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 51.33 percent in the first quarter.
However, energy costs remain a major concern for manufacturers.
According to figures cited by MAN, manufacturers spent about N1.35 trillion on alternative power in 2025, up from N1.11 trillion the previous year.
The association also raised concerns about Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported raw materials, with N3.53 trillion worth of raw materials imported in the first half of 2025. About N1.72 trillion of the imports came from Asia.
Manufacturing key to economic growth
Ayo Omotayo, Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies, said manufacturing would be critical to Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
“If Nigeria is going to work economically, manufacturing must work,” Omotayo said.
He said Nigeria needed to focus not only on creating industrial policies but also on ensuring that those policies were properly implemented.
Omotayo disclosed that the institute had worked with MAN in 2023 to develop a new industrial policy after identifying shortcomings in the existing framework.
He also called for greater attention to the power and energy sector, particularly the need to provide reliable and affordable electricity for manufacturers.
MAN seeks stronger implementation
MAN Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir said the Made-in-Nigeria exhibition was designed to showcase the capacity of local manufacturers and connect their products with potential commercial opportunities.
He said manufacturers had invested heavily in facilities, technology, skills and supply chains but continued to face major obstacles.
Among the challenges he identified were inadequate and expensive electricity, high production costs, logistics difficulties and regulatory barriers.
Ajayi-Kadir said Nigeria’s industrial policy provides a roadmap for development, but achieving meaningful industrialisation would depend on consistent implementation and measurable improvements in investment, productivity, local value addition and employment.
SEO title: MAN Calls for Sanctions Against MDAs Ignoring Made-in-Nigeria Policy
Meta description: MAN has urged the Federal Government to sanction MDAs that ignore Made-in-Nigeria policies and continue to favour imported products.
