FCTA Pledges Support For Manufacturing Sector As MAN Commends Minister’s Intervention During #EndSARS Protests

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has pledged to support the manufacturing sector for the continual growth and development of the Federal Capital Territory.

He made the commitment when a delegation from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria led by its President, Engr Ahmed Mansur paid a visit to the FCTA.

Malam Bello said that it has come to the realization of all that for Nigeria to develop as a nation, emphasis must be placed on the development of the manufacturing sector.

He  added that that the COVID -19 pandemic which resulted in the lock down of countries around the world revealed that as a nation, Nigeria cannot depend on outsiders as the global lockdown resulted in  the disruption of supply chains and manufacturing processes.

He also commended the foresight of President Muhammadu Buhari for policies in the agricultural sector that emphasized “growing what eat and eating what we grow” which shielded the nation from the worst of the pandemic by ensuring local food supply.

While pledging the support of the FCT Administration to the manufacturing sector, the FCT Minister said the Territory has over the years evolved from being just the seat of government.

He cited the efficient transportation network in terms of road, air and now rail, as well as the central location of the FCT and other programmes of government including the AKK pipeline passing through the Territory as areas on which the manufacturing sector can leverage to establish the FCT as an industrial hub in Nigeria.

Malam Bello also pledged the commitment of the Administration to the development of the industrial zones of Gwagwalada and Kwali as well as the provision of more security to the Idu Industrial Area.

Speaking earlier, Engr, Ahmed Mansur commended the timely intervention of the FCT Minister during the ENDSARS protests that  the manufacturing businesses located at the Idu Industrial Area.

In the words of the Engr Mansur, “your timely intervention significantly reduced the impact on our members and the manufacturing sector of the economy. We like to thank you for this intervention”

He also reiterated the importance of the manufacturing sector to the national economy and said that MAN has over the years become a major voice of the Nigerian manufacturing sector and is therefore a strategic partner to the government in its drive towards the transformation of the economy.