The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, has said the Federal Government is working to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy to 20 per cent by 2030 and 25 per cent by 2035.
Enoh disclosed this during a visit to the 700,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote Petrochemicals complex and Dangote Fertiliser Limited in Lagos.
He led a delegation that included the Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Manpower, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund and the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
The minister also described Aliko Dangote, founder and President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, as Nigeria’s foremost industrialist and a key figure in the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy (NIP).
“He is Nigeria’s champion. I mean, it’s even understated when they call him Africa’s wealthiest man,” Enoh said. He added that Dangote’s participation in the launch of the NIP in February helped to raise the profile of the policy.
According to Enoh, the ministry has already achieved its first 90-day target under the industrial policy, while the government’s plans to increase manufacturing’s contribution to the economy would depend partly on continued investment by major local industrialists such as Dangote.
