By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- CIVIL Society Organisations, CSOs, Monday, told President Bola Tinubu to improve security, boost energy capacity, reduce tax for local manufacturers, simplify access to finance, and incentivise Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises to actualise the Nigeria First policy.

Speaking with Vanguard, the Principal Counsel, Idris Faro & CO, Idris Faro, described the policy as a step in the right direction, saying, “This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. No economy develops when it is import dependent. Your export should always be more than your import and there is no good reason why you should rely on foreign goods and services when you can produce them locally and cheaply.

“Nigeria is a dumping ground for foreign goods, some of which are inferior to locally made goods. It is high time we changed our orientation and look inwards.”

Speaking on the ban of products imported into the country but are also manufactured in Nigeria, he said there is no need to put any further measures to enforce the ban on imported products, rather government should take a drastic action, and he added that the ban enforcement should start with the government who mostly import what is produced in the country.

“I don’t think anything should be put in place before the ban. This demands drastic action. It is clear from the announcement by the government that the ban is on foreign goods and services that are produced locally. Why should the government and its agencies patronize foreign manufacturers at the expense of local manufacturers? Are we running our government to uplift the business of foreigners or that of our people? It is the duty of the government to improve the lives of Nigerians in all aspects.

“For example, it is wrong for the government at all levels to use foreign furniture in public offices. We don’t need this at all. All these are produced locally and are of good quality. By patronizing local manufacturers, you save scarce foreign exchange, improve the business of Nigerian manufacturers and entrepreneurs and also grow the economy. You also encourage export in the process.”

For sustainability of the policy, he counselled the Tinubu-led administration to ensure that supporting this policy include; “Improve power supply for production of goods and services. Availability of affordable electricity is crucial for production. Electricity is very expensive in the country and most manufacturers find it difficult to pay for it. It is also not steady.

“Taxation should be reduced for local manufacturers. Excise duty, company tax and other levies should be reduced to encourage industrialization and production.

“Land should be made readily available and affordable for genuine industrialists. A situation where some unscrupulous people obtain vast state land for industrial purposes and convert it to other purposes should be abolished. The Land Use Act is long due for amendment.

“This policy, if implemented religiously, would have a positive impact on the lives of poor Nigerians. It will certainly reduce unemployment because local businesses and industries will flourish, thereby increasing demand for labour. Prices of goods and services will likely fall and will be affordable to the poor people.

“The high cost of living is occasioned largely by our reliance on oil and low production of local goods. And of course, the devaluation of the Naira. When you devalue your currency, you intend to discourage consumption of foreign goods. Then you must increase local production.

“When you export locally produced goods, you earn foreign exchange. But in our case, local production of produce and products didn’t increase, hence, the rise in price of basic commodities.”

The Executive Director, Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun Baiyewu, asserted that the policy was ill-conceived based on the fact that the daunting challenges that are plaguing the economy and the lives of Nigerians have not been adequately addressed.

Baiyewu pointed out that, “What the government should do instead is massively invest in infrastructure for development. Increase Nigeria’s energy capacity, expand rail infrastructure, food preservation technology, access to credit for businesses, investment in industrial technology and intelligence, improve crop yields, standards of goods, educational curriculum to facilitate these, and ensure security. Should Nigeria shut its borders from foreign goods, it cannot hope that others would open up their borders for exports from Nigeria. Rather, it should work on making its quality better and prices more competitive.”