The South-East Zone of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has raised concerns over the rising cost of electricity, revealing that most manufacturing firms in the region are operating below 30 per cent of their installed capacity due to persistent energy challenges.
The Chairman of MAN, South-East Zone, Adaora Chukwudozie, made the disclosure during a one-day symposium on “South-East Industrial Energy Solutions and Investment” held at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, Anambra State.
She appealed to the Federal Government, South-East governors and other stakeholders to urgently address the region’s energy crisis, warning that many industries are struggling to remain operational.
According to Chukwudozie, the absence of the National Gas Pipeline in the South-East has forced many manufacturers to rely on diesel-powered generators, significantly increasing production costs and reducing productivity.
She noted that the high cost of diesel and unreliable electricity supply have left many factories with unsold inventory and weakened the competitiveness of industries in the region.
To address the challenge, Chukwudozie announced the launch of the Industrial Energy Adoption Programme under MAN’s Manpower Development Company Limited, an initiative designed to provide manufacturers with affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions.
She described energy as the backbone of industrial production, stressing that stable and affordable electricity is critical to boosting productivity, attracting investment and driving economic growth.
The chairman also commended the Anambra State Government for providing an enabling environment for industrial development and praised Juddy-Bolema Industries Limited for becoming one of the first companies to participate in the new energy initiative.
Also speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Chiamaka Nnake, and the Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Nigeria, Green Quan, pledged support for efforts aimed at improving energy access and strengthening industrial development across the South-East.
The symposium, themed “From High Energy Costs to Affordable Power: An Opportunity for Manufacturers,” attracted manufacturers, policymakers, financiers, technology providers and industry stakeholders from across the region to explore practical solutions to Nigeria’s industrial energy challenges.
