Oyo State government has said it remains committed to improving the ease of doing business and implementing policies that would enable industries to operate, expand and contribute more significantly to employment and economic development.
The state’s commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, who stated this when welcoming the delegation of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Oyo/Osun/Ondo/Ekiti States branch, led by its branch chairman, Dr Samuel Olawoye, at his office in the state secretariat, Ibadan.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the MAN and other key stakeholders towards creating a conducive environment for industrial growth and sustainable business development in the state.
While appreciating the association for its cooperation and constructive engagement with the state government, he stressed the need for all relevant stakeholders to work together to chart a common path to address issues affecting the manufacturing sector.
He noted that the Ministry of Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, by virtue of its responsibilities, would continue to engage manufacturers and other relevant stakeholders, emphasising that effective inter-ministerial coordination was essential to resolving issues that cut across areas such as industry, trade, markets, environment, health, safety and other regulatory matters.
The commissioner said there was a need to strengthen regular engagement with manufacturers, recalling that issues raised by industrial operators during recent visits to industries had provided useful insights into some of the challenges confronting the sector.
He therefore expressed support for the resuscitation of a regular stakeholder meeting involving the Ministry, MAN and other relevant government agencies.
According to him, issues related to power supply, road access to industrial areas, environmental concerns, safety audits, and other factors affecting business competitiveness require coordinated attention.
Adelabu emphasised the importance of maintaining appropriate safety standards in industrial operations, noting that safety remains a fundamental component of global best practices.
He, however, stressed the need for transparency and proper coordination in implementing regulatory processes, assuring manufacturers that the concerns raised would receive appropriate attention.
He also disclosed that the ministry would continue to collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies on issues affecting industrial development, noting that the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, among other stakeholders, plays an important role in creating a conducive environment for businesses and industrial activities across the State.
The commissioner called for stronger communication and a clearly defined meeting point among relevant stakeholders, saying that effective coordination would help prevent misunderstandings and facilitate faster resolution of issues affecting businesses.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Dr Ademola Aderinto, explained that the ministry remained open to engagement with MAN and other stakeholders, encouraging the association to formally seek clarification whenever it required further information on matters within the Ministry’s purview.
Aderinto explained that the safety audit initiative aimed to promote occupational health and safety, environmental protection, and compliance with applicable operational standards.
He noted that the exercise was designed to identify potential hazards and encourage facilities to strengthen their safety management systems and operational procedures.
He also disclosed that the ministry had commenced initiatives to recognise environmental and compliance excellence among businesses, explaining that such recognition was intended to encourage industries and other operators to continually improve their environmental standards and practices.
Earlier, Olawoye, who led the delegation, read and presented the association’s letter to the commissioner, outlining issues of concern to manufacturers and seeking stronger engagement between the association and relevant government stakeholders.
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Olawoye commended the state government for its engagement with the manufacturing community and recalled the association’s earlier interactions with the ministry, stressing the importance of regular stakeholder meetings as a platform to address emerging issues affecting manufacturers.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the state government and MAN to exchange views on matters affecting industrial operations, with both sides expressing the need for continued dialogue and constructive engagement in the interest of industrial development in Oyo State.
