The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has made an appeal to the Federal Government not to endorse the ECOWAS- EU Economic Partnership Trade Agreement in its present form.
The manufacturers’ latest position on the proposed pact which has been continued to be trailed by vehement opposition by various groups in the country over the past two years was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Information, Ministry of Budget National Planning, Mr. Charles Dafe, on Tuesday.
The Manufacturers Association argued that succumbing to EU’s pressure for endorsement of the agreement would amount to economic slavery and doom for the country’s industrialization efforts as both parties are not at par in terms of development. According to him, the President of the Association, Frank Udemba Jacobs, made this appeal on Monday during a courtesy visit by the association to the Ministry.
He stated: “The position of MAN on the ECOWAS-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is that Nigeria should not endorse the Trade Agreement in its present form as both parties are not at par developmentally. Succumbing to EU’S pressure for its endorsement would amount to economic slavery and doom for the country’s industrialization efforts because the modest achievements recorded so far would be wiped away.
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“We request your support on this issue. Nigeria’s position should be given top- most consideration on entering in to any International Trade Agreement’’ MAN added.
Jacobs urged the Federal Government to sustain the Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) in order to enhance the nation’s infrastructure base, as well as call for the Rail Master Plan to be continued with, in view of the importance of the rail system in haulage of bulk goods and movement of personnel in order to ease congestion at the country’s sea ports, particularly the Lagos ports.
He also called for closer cooperation and interaction with the Ministry on Major policy formulation and implementation particularly with regard to those that relate to the development of the manufacturing sector in particular and the real sector in general.
According to him, the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP had shown some improvement before the recent slump in forex revenue but believe that, with the right policies in 28 place, the sector would bounce back, especially with focus on diversification of the economy.
He said that: “In our efforts to diversify the economy, nonoil exports should be the focus. However, experience of exporters whose EEG/NDCC claims have not been processed for years is not encouraging. The EEG review should be speedily concluded’’.
Responding to the demands of MAN, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Fatimah Nana Mede, assured the association that any issue that would not be of advantage to Nigeria will not be endorsed.
