LCCI Seeks Overhaul of Industrial Policies to Protect Local Manufacturers

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called on government at all levels to overhaul policies affecting the competitiveness of local manufacturers, warning that regulatory bottlenecks, an uneven import duty regime and weak support for indigenous industry are pushing up production costs and deterring investment.

Presenting a review of the economy, LCCI president Leye Kupoluyi pointed to the printing sector as a clear example: imported books enter duty-free under international agreements while local printers pay duties on imported printing inputs, leaving domestic operators at a structural disadvantage. He urged the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service to revisit the duty structure.

The chamber also raised concern over declining patronage of indigenous printing firms, urging government to prioritise local companies in public procurement, and flagged excessive regulatory requirements — including duplicate registration for products with identical formulations in different pack sizes — as a heavy compliance burden on small and medium-sized businesses.

Source: The Guardian