The National Orientation Agency, (NOA) has stated that the low patronage of made in Nigeria goods have led to the closure of local Industries and urged Nigerians to patronize local products to promote Nigerian companies and businesses and discourage what it described as deceptive branding of local products by packaging them with foreign labels.
The agency said that the low patronage of Nigerian made goods and services in comparison with foreign ones in the market is negatively affecting businesses.
Director, NOA, Abia State, Lady Ngozi Okechukwu, who spoke at a workshop titled, ‘Repositioning Aba as a prime investment hub for Rapid economic Development’, in Aba, lamented that the lack of patronage of Nigerian goods had led to closing of local industries, high rate of unemployment , capital flight as well as industries operating at low capacity.
Lady Okechukwu noted that despite the various efforts by the federal government to promote locally produced goods and services to boost the declining manufacturing and other related sectors of the Nigerian economy, local entrepreneurs still lack global competitive advantage.
“NOA believes that there is a need for sustained national campaign to sensitize and re-orientate Nigerians to change their attitude towards locally made products, thereby enabling revival of local industries, creation of employment and restoration of national pride. Nigerians
must achieve economic prosperity by identifying with Nigerian products and buying them and also utilizing local services in Nigeria.”
Speaking at the occasion, State Focal Person on social programmes, Mr. Chinenye Nwaogu who represented Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, explained that the state government had done alot to expose the business ingenuity that operates in Aba to the world as well as provide conducive environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
In his remarks, 2nd Vice President, Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry , Mines and Agriculture, (ACCIMA) Chief Jerry Kalu, who noted that the Chamber wants Aba to grow stronger economically , enumerated challenges facing businesses in Aba to include power and bad roads network which has made it free flow of goods difficult.
