Power: MAN Urges FG to Shelve Nuclear Option

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Federal Government to shelve its proposed plans of using nuclear resources to generate electricity.

Vice Chairman of MAN, Chief Gbadebo Giwa, made the plea at the second edition of Ikeja MAN’s Consultative Forum in Lagos, urging the government to focus on gas. He said Nigeria lacked the resources to tackle the problems associated with the nuclear power plant.

Giwa said  nuclear power was good when built in a way that the associated problems could be properly handled. “As good as nuclear power plant is, it comes with its own problems.  If crises do happen, it will be a grievous tsunami,’’ he said.

Giwa said that MAN supported the use of gas to generate electricity, adding that Nigeria has abundant gas resources, which should be explored.

“MAN supports the use of gas which we have in abundance. The Federal Government can then look at other resources like solar, hydro, wind, among others which are also in abundance,” he said.

According to him, “the country will be better off if we can achieve 6,000 megawatts soon”, saying, “the story of power situation will change for good”.

Giwa, commenting on high cost of doing business in Lagos, described the situation as unfortunate development, urging the state government to harmonise taxes and levies for businesses to thrive.

The MAN official said that the issue of multiple taxation had forced many businesses to relocate to the neighbouring states.

“It is worrisome and that is one of the reasons we are having this forum to take a critical look at the issue and find a way to tackle the challenges,” he said. According to him, “we wish the state government can actually listen to the investors and moderate its charges according to investors’ pockets to enable business to thrive.”

Managing Director, Honeywell Flour Mill Group, Mr Tunde Odunayo, said in a paper entitled: ‘Investment Climate in Lagos State, the Manufacturers’ Perspective’ that over 50 per cent of the manufacturing companies in Nigeria were located in Lagos.

He said that the various interface with the state government agencies in term of policies and regulation came with a cost.

He frowned at the state government’s delay in the processing and getting approval of some important issues like the Governor’s Consent. “Timeliness of approval from the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) needs to be looked into,” Odunayo said.

Chairman of MAN, Ikeja Branch, Mr Isaac Agoye, called for a comprehensive database on the raw materials and products to facilitate internal transaction and patronage.

Agoye said that the association was collaborating with the government to fast track effective representation of genuine manufacturing concerns in the Lekki-Free Trade Zone.

source : Thisday