Nigeria’s first policy will unlock the potential of industries – Ammon

The Association of Manufacturers of Nigeria (Ammon) has expressed enthusiasm for the “Nigeria First Policy” of President Bola Tinubu, stating that it will unlock the potential of the industries in Nigeria.

In a declaration by the President of Ammon, Engr. Homogbengun Durosola, the body has appreciated Tinubu for politics, which gives priority to the goods manufactured locally in public contracts and sends the transfer of technology and the construction of capacity when foreign options are pursued.

The President of the President for Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, and the Minister of State for Industry, Senator Owan Enoh, for their support, also praised the special consultant.

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Ammon has undertaken to support government efforts, underlining that its members have the ability to provide and install adequate meters for all consumers.

He said: “With the emanation of the” first policy of Nigeria “Ammon remains ready and equipped to show its ability to provide a meter to the country with our members who currently boast a combined ability of six million meters per year and holding over 250,000 compliant counters in the country, ready for immediate deployment while continuing to satisfy future demand.

“Our registers show that Ammon/Map has provided more quickly and in multiples of any foreign contract project undertaken. The World Bank project has delivered 75,000 meters out of 1.25 million meters in 20 months while Ammon delivered 1.7 million meters in 12 months of 2021. We are still able to do it if such a funded procurement have been provided.”

Ammon urged the government to make the “first policy of Nigeria” fully operational in the recovery program of the Nigeria distribution sector, Disrep II and initiative for presidential measurement, SMEs, adopting national competitive offers (NCB) as a mechanism of default to guarantee the inclusion of the local content.

This, supported the association, will prevent the capitals of the capitals, stimulate the creation of jobs and accelerate the integration backwards.

According to Ammon, “the Nigeria measurement industry is a milestone of national development and, with the right political support, can graduate from production in the initial phase to full production, thus positioning Nigeria as a regional export hub under Afcfta.

“Mr. President, your leadership inspires confidence and renews hope in the industrial future of Nigeria. We commit our full cooperation and the continuous dedication to the success of the renewed agenda of the hope of your administration.”

The Association highlighted that there are 42 manufacturers of local meters in Nigeria, with an installed capacity combined with 6 million meters per year, which takes 10,000 workers directly and 30,000 indirectly.

Ammon also observed that the manufacturers of local meters have installed 2.6 million meters and 850,000 meters of national mass measurement program (NMMP) between 2020 and 2024.

He said: “The contribution provided by the manufacturers of local meters, in particular from 2021 to 2024, was reached at the cost of N353.7 billion (at today’s prices for individual and three -phase meters and excluding the NMMP project financed by CBN of 850,000 meters). This amount was financed by LMMA/MAPS locally”.

Ammon expressed concern for contracts with Chinese companies, citing a slow birth and high costs. They urged the government to give priority to local production to stimulate industrial growth and the creation of jobs.

He said: “Recently TCN/ PMU The Department of the Nigeria transmission company has signed a contract with two Chinese companies to provide 1.25 million meters at a cost of over 100 million USD using loans from the World Bank.

“Before the execution of this supply process, we recommended to the FGG, therefore in the last administration to allow manufacturers of local meters to participate in this transaction and we had convincing reasons but we are denied the opportunity.

“Since the beginning of this transaction only 75,000 meters out of 1.25 million meters have been delivered by these Chinese companies. Those counters are still uninstalled by defeating the goal of solving the liquidity crisis that we, warn, are doing daily without incentives or assistance from any quarter in addition to our belief in our nation.

“Despite the sad failure of the first foreign contract, TCN is going on with another contract of the World Bank of 1.55 million meters which will contribute in many conditions in the killing of local production.”