By JIMOH BABATUNDE  & NAOMI UZOR

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)  has charged members to take issues of standard as priority during manufacturing activities in order to make made in Nigeria goods compete in the global market, just as the body  decried the difficulties its members  go through in the  approval processes of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as well as NAFDAC.

Chairman, MAN, Apapa branch, Mr. John Aluya said  the role of standards in the nation’s manufacturing sector cannot be over emphasised, noting that standardisation is key in economic development and increasing greater patronage of made-in-Nigeria products.

Aluya during the branch’s business luncheon added that the quest for industrialisation and sustained development in the country and the attendant improvement in the quality of life of the populace has been and will continue to be the association’s focal point for value addition.

He said  there is an urgent need for the Federal government to adopt a policy framework that will enhance development and encourage business enterprise.

Aluya, however, stated that for the manufacturing sector to key intoVision 20-2020, a lot needs to be done.

According to him, apart from some obvious limitations hindering the growth of the sector of which lack of infrastructure accounts for 70 per cent, Aluya said it is imperative that overbearing posture of some government agencies are clogs in the wheel of progress for its members.

Also speaking during the second quarter press conference on the economy, the President of LCCI, Mr Goodie Ibru, disclosed that   feedback from manufacturers indicated that members  suffer serious delays as a result of approval processes of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and  NAFDAC

Goodie Ibru added that   there  were complaints also on delays in getting import permit from SON and Certificate of Manufacturers and Free Sales from NAFDAC.

“There were also complaints about delays in getting permits for controlled chemicals from NAFDAC. High charges imposed by NAFDAC, SON and LASEPA (Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency), delays at the ports arising from port logistics, bureaucracy and congestion at some terminals.”

He said the situation further deteriorated at the Apapa port following the change of inspection service providers, “insecurity in parts of the country which affected sales, in some cases by as much as 30 per cent and multiplicity of levies by agencies of government at states, federal and local government levels.”