The Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for Cross River/Akwa Ibom Command, Chukwudi Gabriel Ogbonna, emphasized the urgent need for more manufacturing firms in Nigeria, highlighting a disparity between the number of hotels and manufacturing facilities in the country.
Speaking in Calabar while receiving a delegation from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Wednesday, Ogbonna stressed the crucial role of manufacturers in sustaining and energizing the local and national economy.
“The local or national economy cannot survive without manufacturers. Manufacturing or productive economy energizes any economy,” Ogbonna said. “But there seems to be more hotels than manufacturing concerns in Cross River and many other states. It shouldn’t be that way.”
Ogbonna pointed out that the NCS is also affected when manufacturers are not operational, as they contribute significantly to revenue generation. He called for more support for local manufacturers to bolster economic growth.
The MAN delegation, led by acting chairman Usen Umoh, expressed their appreciation for the existing collaboration with the NCS and discussed ways to further enhance their partnership. Umoh noted the critical relationship between manufacturers and customs, given the need for importing and exporting goods.
“We manufacturers cannot do without NCS. This is because as we manufacture, we also import and export. Therefore, we must always interface with NCS. Our businesses have a lot to do with Customs,” Umoh said. “We came to solicit greater cooperation between ourselves and the NCS.”
The meeting underscored the mutual benefits of a strong partnership between manufacturers and the customs service in driving economic development in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
