Use Product Banning to Encourage Local Production – Experts

Local markets can benefit from better control of supplies by encouraging local production and banning importation of products that can be manufactured locally. This, experts posit is possible if Nigerians show a collective discipline and obedience to rules when bans are placed on importation.
Engr. Andrew Abu, an industrialist and CEO Seldrew Investment Ltd, speaking to M2 disclosed that, “the major challenge local production has had to contend with is none enforcement of the import policies, with the porous nature of our boarders compounded by corrupt custom officers, leaving our markets awash with imported goods at the expense of our local production.”
Continuing, he says: “The only period I have witnessed successful closure of the boarders was during the brief period the Buhari/Idiagbon regime lasted. That brief period saw a tremendous growth of local industries.”
Abu posits that when banning is selectively done on certain products it can produce positive chain reactions on the economy as a whole.
Mr Philip Trimnell, CEO, Philip Trimnell productions owners of the TV programme, Music Africa who also lent his voice on the issue during an interview with M2, agrees with Abu’s position on proper policing at the boarders. In his opinion banning as it is practiced in Nigeria is counter productive, “because those who are supposed to enforce the ban at the boarders always turn around to create a back door through which they enrich themselves.”