I consume 40 percent of locally made products-Buhari

By Abolaji Adebayo

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated its administration’s plan to industrialize the country, disclosing that 40 per cent of the products used and consumed since its administration assumed office were sourced from locally manufacturers.

Buhari noted that his government is committed to industrialization and would continuously embark on strategies that would encourage consumption of locally made products to boost the economy.

The President reaffirmed its administration commitment towards industrialisation of the country on Friday at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Lagos International Trade Fair organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos.

He hinted that one of the strategies adopted to industrialize the country is the ongoing plan to create industrial zones across the various geo-political zones of the country with the state-of-the-art infrastructures.

The President, who was represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, explained that this would attract foreign investments into the country while helping the local investors to grow and keep businesses thriving.

He added that the government was also committed to the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), through the various financing windows that could be accessed at the Bank of Industry (BOI). This, according to him, was in line with the government’s policy to sustain the industrialization bid.

The President, who appreciated the upward movement of the country in list of Easy of Doing Business said that the vision of his administration was to make Nigeria the easiest place for doing business among other countries of the world.

He therefore linked the feat to the focus of his government to policies. He however said that the government needs to partner with the Organized Private Sector (OPS) for the execution of its economic policies in order to achieve more positive economic results.

Commending the LCCI for organizing another international standard trade fair, Buhari said that the theme of the 31st Trade Fair “Promoting Industrialization for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Growth” was timely and in line with the government’s policy to industrialize the economy.

He therefore promised that the government would work harder to fully recover the economy by putting feasible economic, fiscal and monetary in place.