Speaking at the 26th annual general meeting of association in Lagos, PMA former Chairman, Engineer S.I. Tella advised government to revitalise the ailing manufacturing sector, urging governments to provide roads, portable water, housing, school and hospitals in all parts of the country.
He said: “The multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy will be enormous as manufacturers in these sectors will provide some of the materials to be used in the developmental efforts thereby keeping their factories running. A lot of jobs will also be created by them for young men and women.”
He said that the lingering issue of insecurity in some parts of the country occasioned by Boko Haram insurgents as well as the increasing level of armed robbery and kidnapping posed serious challenges, adding: “Our members recorded low sales and low returns on account of this problem because those whose facilities are located in the central and far northern parts of the country could not carry on with their normal business activities. People now leave in fear, while businesses are closing down. The effort of federal government aimed at stemming the high level of insecurity has not achieved the desired result.”