Don’t sign EU partnership agreement, MAN warns FG

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the Federal Government should not sign the ECOWAS – EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), as it would further de-industrialise the country.

According to a statement signed by Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director General, MAN; “MAN wishes to reiterate its insistence that Nigeria’s concerns with respect to EPA Market Access should be addressed before the country could endorse the Agreement just as it was done before the take-off of the ECOWAS CET. This is to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a dumping ground for finished products from the European Union.

“At the inception of this administration in May 2015, MAN submitted a position paper where it recommended strongly that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari should not sign the EPA in its present form, taking into consideration the negative consequences the EPA would have on local manufacturing in particular and the economy in general, especially in the areas of job creation, loss of investment and revenue to government.”

Ajayi-Kadir, noted that Nigeria, at various stages in the EPA negotiation process, voiced strong opposition to the agreement and raised concerns that the Agreement would lead to de-industrialisation as it is structured to limit the growth of manufacturing in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria.

He stated that the implication of EPA is that the Nigerian economy will remain a provider of raw materials and importer of finished products.

The DG said: “MAN’s concern is premised on the fact that from all parameters, West African States, including Nigeria, are not at the same level of economic development with any European country.

“Therefore, we are not in a position to conclude a reciprocal trade relationship as espoused in the trade agreement with EU.

“Based on the country’s national interest, the last and present administrations took a pragmatic decision not to join other West African States in endorsing the Economic Partnership Agreement [EPA] in its present form as it is not development oriented but designed to turn Nigeria into a dumping ground for European products. In appreciation of this, MAN and other stakeholders commended the Federal Government for acting in the national interest.

“MAN believes that given the reality of today’s world and the current stagflation in the economy, our nation can ill-afford to rely on exporting raw commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, solid minerals and unprocessed agricultural products. We need to break this circle and invoke deliberate efforts to industrialise our economy, which is consistent with Government policy on improving ease of doing business.

“In going forward, MAN recommends that our decision should continue to be dictated by our national industrial aspiration to develop a virile manufacturing sector. Our national interest dictates that we should not sign the ECOWAS-EU EPA which is structured to destroy our industries both in the short and long run.”

However, MAN commended the Federal Government, and its economic team for their commitment and doggedness towards piloting the affairs of this country and creating enabling environment for manufacturers.