By Rukayat Moisemhe
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for stronger collaboration between government and industry to shape effective policies for a thriving manufacturing sector in 2026.
MAN President, Mr Francis Meshioye, made the call on Wednesday in Lagos at the 10th MAN Media Personality of the Year Award and Presidential Media Luncheon.
Meshioye urged government stakeholders to consult all relevant players before taking decisions affecting manufacturing, warning that poor engagement weakens policy outcomes.
According to him, policies must drive growth, innovation and competitiveness, with agencies acting as enablers of ease of doing business, not obstacles.
He said manufacturers faced persistent challenges in 2025, including infrastructure deficits, multiple taxation, onerous regulations and deep-rooted structural bottlenecks.
“These challenges underscore the fragility of the operating environment for manufacturers,” Meshioye said.
He noted that the Manufacturers CEOs’ Confidence Index fell to 53.2 per cent in first-quarter 2025 from 56.0 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024.
“This subdued confidence reflects the unfriendly macroeconomic environment during the period,” he added.
In spite the headwinds, Meshioye said the sector showed resilience, recording improvements in capacity utilisation, exports and overall economic contribution.
He said capacity utilisation rose to 61.3 per cent from 57.6 per cent in late 2024, while export value increased to N978.53 billion in third-quarter 2025.
Meshioye added that manufacturing’s GDP contribution averaged 8.36 per cent in third-quarter 2025, compared with 8.24 per cent recorded in 2024.
“Output growth remained positive across 2025 quarters, reflecting manufacturers’ resilience despite a challenging operating environment,” he said.
The MAN president projected a positive economic outlook for 2026, noting opportunities for manufacturers if supportive policies are implemented.
He said MAN projected manufacturing growth of 3.1 per cent in 2026, with the sector contributing over 10 per cent to GDP.
Meshioye said advocacy would focus on capital expenditure, affordable energy, long-term finance, policy consistency, restrained taxation and patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products.
“Manufacturing is central to jobs, exports and fiscal sustainability. When manufacturing thrives, Nigeria thrives,” he said.
MAN Director-General, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said changing global dynamics had made inward-looking economic strategies increasingly necessary for nations.
He said industrialisation remained the accepted pathway to sustainable national growth amid shifting sovereignty and rising self-sufficiency drives.
Ajayi-Kadir stressed journalism’s role in shaping national discourse, urging rigorous analysis and investigative reporting over superficial storytelling.
“While story angles matter, depth is critical for informed economic outcomes,” he said.
He congratulated award winners and encouraged broader media participation in future editions.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that its Principal Correspondent, Ms Rukayat Abu, won the MAN Media Personality of the Year Award (Online) for 2025. (NAN)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
