Anambra State To Partner With Manufacturers Association On Industrialisation

The Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo has promised to partner with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN and the organised private sector to achieve his industrialisation agenda.

Governor Soludo made the promise at the MAN Business/Stakeholders Town Hall Meeting in Onitsha, Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria.

The Governor who described the community of manufacturers as true partners of progress, recalled his meeting with the landlords’ association, saying they talked about Onitsha and its environs, and the need to revive its fortune as a Commercial city of repute.

He noted that his administration was already tackling the foundational issues, disclosing that there are plans to pass a law to make touting illegal and punishable by imprisonment for those found guilty.

Governor Soludo said; “My administration’s major goal is to transform Anambra from a state with a largely informal economy into a hub for industry, technology, and leisure.

The Anambra industrial policy will soon be implemented. Following this, a new Commissioner for Industry had been appointed to support my vision for manufacturing and industrialisation.”

“With a sizeable urban population, Anambra’s future lies in industrialisation and manufacturing, and we are dedicated to following this path.

“Our goal for Anambra is to make it a thriving community where people want to live and visit. People won’t be able to invest in the state if they can’t come and feel at home,” he explained.

The Governor said; “In our master plan, we have also acquired 100 hectares of land that will house the centre of commerce and grow to be Africa’s largest shopping mall, as well as 4000 hectares of land that will be an industrial city and the Nnewi Automobile Park at Akwaihedi.

“We will develop a power policy, now that the Nigerian constitution has been amended to include power on the concurrent list.”

The Governor emphasised that buying local products is the best way to support its growth.

He urged the Anambra citizens living abroad and outside the state to send 25–50% of the taxes they pay to their home country to Anambra, stressing that if they do, the state will be far better in five to ten years.

The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Francis Meshioye, expressed gratitude to the Governor for honouring them with his presence as well as to his colleagues for the cordial reception.

Meshioye commended MAN members for sustaining their businesses, despite the difficult economic period and emphasized that the role of MAN includes providing foreign exchange as well as deepening ties between the public, private sector and manufacturers in particular.

He prayed that the Dozzy Group’s Liason Office would bring good tidings and that the inauguration of the Elders’ Committee would forge a way ahead for manufacturers in the state.

On her part, the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi), Ada Chukwudozie, emphasised the need for the Anambra State government to find a solution to problems related to land allocation, title documents (C/O) and, constant power supply for industries to operate efficiently, among others.

Chukwudozie praised the Governor for flagging off more than 261 km of roads in the state and suggested that a knowledgeable consultant should be engaged to meet with MAN stakeholders to discuss the issues and come up with solutions.

The Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Uchenna Okafor, Deputy Speaker, Dr Pascal Agbodike, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah Representing Anambra South District, Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Alfred Achebe, members of the State Executive Council, among others attended the event.

The event also featured the commissioning of the MAN Liason Office provided by Dozzy Group.

Mercy Chukwudiebere