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Expensive land scaring away industrialists from FCT – MAN

By on August 6, 2016

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria on Thursday lamented the high cost of acquiring land within the Federal Capital Territory, stating that the development was currently scaring away industrialists from Abuja.

The Executive Secretary, MAN, Mr. Okpe Sunday, stated this at the third Annual General Meeting of the Abuja branch of the association.

He lamented the current dilapidated state of infrastructure within the industrial layouts in Abuja, noting that the development was putting a strain on the productive ability of manufacturers.

Sunday called on the Federal Government and the Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, to address the dilapidated infrastructure in the industrial layouts as well as open up more land for manufacturers at affordable prices.

He said, “The high post-election expectations from manufacturers were dashed by unfavourable government policies. The known infrastructural decadence affecting manufacturing activities over the years was compounded by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive excluding some essential raw materials from the list of items valid for foreign exchange.

“The issue of infrastructure at our various industrial layouts within Abuja still remains a mirage as manufacturers struggle to provide for themselves basic amenities.

“We urge the FCT minister to open up more land at affordable prices for manufacturers as the present cost of land in the FCT is scaring away potential manufacturers and limiting the expansion bids of existing manufacturers.”

The President of MAN, Dr. Frank Jacobs, who also spoke at the event, said the challenges facing industrialists had made it imperative for the operators in the sector to come up with innovative ideas to make them remain in business.

He called on the government to consider what he described as “resource-based industrialisation” to boost the utilisation of local raw materials for production.

 

[Punch]