The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha has claimed that Nigerians are now proud to use made in Nigeria products due to the intervention of the Federal Government in developing local industries, which he said has resulted in the growth of local businesses.
According to the SGF, this new trend would impact the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, generation of employment opportunities and reduction in the cost of production.
Mustapha stated this while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the exhibition of made-in-Nigeria products in Abuja as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s Diamond Jubilee.
He said: “The intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria in developing local industries has resulted in a boom in the growth of local businesses. Local production of hitherto imported products is beginning to gain grounds that I make bold to say that the materials produced locally can compete favorably with the imported ones.
“Nigerians now proudly use products branded made-in-Nigeria. This development will no doubt attract several benefits to the country including increase in its Gross Domestic Product, generation of employment opportunities and reduction in the cost of production.”
Mustapha further disclosed that the government was beginning to show greater interest and provide more support for local production in order to encourage the growth of local industries, adding that it was part of the sector that was contributing about 10 per cent to the GDP.
He however charged standards regulatory agencies to ensure local producers meet global standards.
“Manufacturing is part of the economic sector in Nigeria that contributes approximately 10 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product each year. The production activity centres on the production of household goods, consumer products, agriculture, mining, cement, building materials, chemicals and so on.
“It is instructive to note that three sectors namely food & beverages, cement, and textile account for 77 per cent of the manufacturing output generating value in the country.
“The government is beginning to show greater interest and provide more support for local production in order to encourage the growth of local industries.
“Our economic diversification strategy would rely heavily on the extent to which we create globally competitive products. Therefore, we have to take the issue of standards seriously and I implore all our standards regulatory agencies to provide all the necessary guidance to local producers to ensure they meet global standards”, he said.
