By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

Organised Private Sector, under the aegis of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, weekend expressed appreciation to Edo State Government on its massive infrastructure development and commitment towards improving the socio-economic fortune of the good people of the state.

Chairman, MAN, Edo and Delta States, Mr. Humphrey Masodje during a courtesy call on Government House said, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has stirred infrastructural development revolution in the state.

He said with the complimentary hands of the Secretary to the State Government, Professor, Julius Ihonvbere, who will bring his wealth of experience to bear on the interface between bureaucratic apparatus, and the role of the ruling elite in the project of development in Africa, Nigeria, Edo State would be better for it.

Masodje enumerated some challenges facing MAN to include uncoordinated tax administration, difficulty in accessing long term bank credit for small scale industries, insecurity of lives and property as a result of increase in the activities of hoodlums against the background of unemployment, dumping of inferior substandard products from Asia and low patronage by government of made in Nigeria goods.

While responding, Ihonvbere said “in Edo state, we have no problem patronizing made in Nigeria goods. We have a policy of not buying goods outside unless we can’t get it to buy here. We have discovered that made in Nigeria goods are of equal or even higher quality and, if those who manufactured it are just around the corner, it is easier to call them when there are problems to come and fix them.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with made in Nigeria goods.

”Before Governor Oshiomhole came to rescue Edo state, it was already ruined just like Nigeria was run down. People sat down in our very eyes to kill the Nigeria Railways, National Shipping Line, Nigeria Airways, Aladja Still factory, Cement factories, Mining Corporation, NICON among others and not anyone of them was charged for anything.

”So, we are just trying to revive the system and rebuild the state, get people to pay their taxes and luckily, the people of Edo State are seeing what we are using the money for. The compliance level is more than 80 percent except for some top members of the burguoise class, who have never paid but now, they have to pay property tax.

I believe as we mature and get experience, it will become an easy thing such that you don’t need to remind people or need tax collectors before people pay what they are supposed to pay. When you inherit a situation, you try to deal with it such as insecurity, joblessness among others.