President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that his regime will do everything in its power to improve access to foreign exchange for importation of raw materials and machines.

Buhari spoke on Wednesday at the State House during an advocacy visit by the leadership of MAN, in response to requests for the manufacturing sector to contribute more to the Nigerian economy.

The president in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told the Mansur Ahmed-led MAN executives that the relevant ministry would revisit their concerns about the increase in excise duties on selected products and other tariff-related matters.

On the African Continental Free Trade Area, the president said Nigeria would fasttrack the process of setting up the Designated Competent Authority that will superintend the administration of Rules of Origin and Commission as well as the automation for issuance of electronic Certificate of Origin.

He added that the federal government would also ensure that relevant structured platforms are established for monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the Ease of Doing Business and improved government patronage of made in Nigeria products.

He said ‘‘Our strategic plan to boost manufacturing activities in the country is on course.

‘‘We will continue to improve the patronage of locally made goods, bridge the gap between skills required by industry and those provided by our tertiary institutions and ensure seamless access to long term finance for our Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises.

‘‘We recognize that MAN remains a key stakeholder in this journey and we will continue our engagement with you.”

Buhari said a private sector-led economy is the way to create jobs urged the leadership of MAN to continue to encourage manufacturers that Government recognizes the resilience of their members and other private sector organisations in promoting a virile manufacturing sector in Nigeria.

On the impact of COVID-19 on world economies, the President noted that while the pandemic harmed the Nigerian economy with the attendant fluctuations in the price of oil, his administration has effectively contained the spread of the pandemic and other diseases.

He added that the federal government would continue to consistently deploy prudent means of judiciously utilising the limited revenue to sustain the economy and stimulate growth.

President Buhari also reemphasized that despite limited resources, his regime has made appreciable progress in road and rail infrastructure development; provision of stimulus packages for the manufacturing sector; improvement in energy management and support for exporters to improve the operating environment for businesses in Nigeria.

‘‘These projects are there for all to see. Furthermore, we are vigorously pursuing reforms on ease of doing business and currently putting in place other necessary policy measures and incentives that will guarantee full recovery from the consequences of COVID-19, sustain economic development and further shield the economy from the potential impact of fluctuations in the price of crude oil in the global market.

‘‘I have listened carefully to all the challenges enumerated by the President of MAN and would like to assure you that, as we have done in the recent past, we will consider some of the constraints that are yet to be fully addressed, especially those that align with our policies and programmes for economic recovery and sustainable development.

‘‘Let me assure you that this Administration is fully aware that the survival of Nigeria lies in Agriculture and having a viable domestic manufacturing sector…when I say Agriculture, I also refer to Agro-Allied business which is the value-added component in the value chain.

‘‘A strong manufacturing sector creates more jobs and wealth for our people,” he said.

In her remarks, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, pledged that the Ministry would continue to work with MAN in the areas of policy, trade and creating an environment to facilitate the growth of businesses in Nigeria.