The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has raised concerns over the worsening state of manufacturing activities in Nigeria’s South-East region, warning that rising energy costs, poor electricity supply and limited access to finance are pushing many factories toward shutdown.
Chairman of MAN for Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states, Ada Chukwudozie, made this known during the MAN South-East Stakeholders’ Industry Conversation held in Awka.
The forum brought together manufacturers, regulators and key industry stakeholders to address growing concerns over electricity regulation, billing transparency and the steady decline in industrial productivity across the region.
Speaking at the event, Chukwudozie revealed that many of the few factories still operating in the South-East are currently running at less than 30 per cent of their installed capacity due to soaring electricity tariffs, high energy costs and restricted access to credit facilities.
According to her, the harsh business environment necessitated the stakeholders’ roundtable, stressing that the manufacturing sector remains vital to economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.
She warned that without urgent intervention, industrial activities across the South-East could deteriorate further, posing serious threats to employment opportunities and regional economic stability.
“The manufacturing sector cannot thrive in an environment of uncertainty,” she stated.
Chukwudozie called for urgent reforms in the power sector, insisting that electricity policies must be anchored on transparency, accountability and measurable performance standards. She advocated agreed electricity supply hours, improved service delivery and compensation mechanisms for manufacturers whenever power supply falls below expectations.
She also urged regulatory authorities to strengthen oversight of electricity distribution companies and prioritise stable power supply to industrial clusters across the South-East.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed worries that manufacturers are increasingly struggling under mounting production costs caused by unreliable electricity supply and the growing dependence on expensive alternative energy sources.
According to participants, the absence of affordable and stable power could force more companies to either scale down operations or shut down entirely.
Delivering the keynote address, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Sam Amadi, urged South-East governors to adopt deliberate policies that prioritise electricity supply to industrial clusters.
Amadi also advocated electricity pricing frameworks that would encourage manufacturers to expand production capacity and invest in long-term industrial growth.
The stakeholders’ conversation ended with renewed calls for practical and sustainable solutions to revive industrial output and address the persistent electricity challenges crippling businesses across the South-East.
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