ABUJA (Industry, Trade & Investment Ministry Report) – The Nigerian Government has directed all the electricity distribution companies in the country to patronize local manufacturers in line with the policies designed by government to ensure accelerated development of the industrial sector.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment made the statement at the One – Day Stakeholders’ Forum on Metre / Transformer Manufacturing in Nigeria organised by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in collaboration with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) at its conference room in Abuja.
In his address delivered by the Director of Industrial Development and Inspectorate, Awobokun Omotanwa (Engr), the Minister said that his Ministry has received series of complaints on non-patronage and the influx of meters and transformers into the country by the local manufacturers of these items. He intensified that the purpose of the meeting was to bring together Stakeholders to deliberate on the challenges confronting the sub-sector and to come up with ideas and workable plans for the formulation of appropriate strategies and policies to support the sector.
“The misconception by Nigerians that locally made products are of sub – standard even when it is obvious that imported ones are inferior needs to be addressed using procurement regime as a tool to develop local patronage. Let us collectively ensure that we use local patronage as anchor to improve standards of Nigerian goods and services,” he averred.
“For the Nigerian industry to thrive, we need to support a strong and growing local demand. It is essential to know that our local market provides a strong base from which Nigerian products can refine their standards; build a strong base and then subsequently proceed into the global export markets.”
The Minister commended the efforts of the local manufacturers for their commitment and resilience, urging them not to relent in producing quality products as government is all out to provide extensive infrastructure to ameliorate their challenges. He further commended NERC and other stakeholders for their support and understanding in organising the meeting to initiate sustainable strategies and policies towards addressing the challenges confronting the meter and transformer manufacturers in the country.
According to him, the manufacturers and distribution companies will collaborate with each other to make the meter/transformer subsector a prosperous industry in the country.
Also speaking at the event, the Secretary of the Electricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN), Muideen Adebayo stated that their members out of sheer patriotism and the numerous challenges confronting manufacturers have undertaken undaunted risks with borrowed funds on high interest rates to establish world class factories; adding that local manufacturers have the production capacity of 1.2 million meters per annum with room for future expansion.
Muideen Adebayo urged the government to create and make available at two percent a special intervention fund in the form of soft loans to local electricity meter manufacturers, in order to create more jobs for Nigerians, boost the annual revenue earnings of Nigerians and curb capital flight to their counterparts from China.
In his contribution, the Managing Director of Elsewedy Electric, Raed Hassaniel solicited the support of the Federal Government in ensuring that their businesses survive extremely harsh conditions by enacting protectionist laws. “Every year, Nigeria imports in excess of 10,000 transformers from different countries. Yet, the manufacturers of transformers in Nigeria are struggling to survive. Energy meters are also skewed in favour of foreign companies, despite the fact that there are capable manufacturers in the country.
Earlier in her remarks, the Commissioner for Engineering Safety & Standards of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Mary Emiola Awolokun (Engr) solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders in the development of the energy sector; indicating that her organization would continue to encourage Disco to patronise local manufacturers of energy meters and transformers. __
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