Business
Manufacturers Face Dire Situation As Unsold Goods Soar To N470 Billion
The Nigerian manufacturing sector is facing difficulties as the amount of unsold goods continues to increase.
The inventory stockpile has risen by 22 percent, reaching N469.66 billion in 2022 compared to N384.58 billion in the previous year. Moreover, industry operators express concerns that the situation is deteriorating further.
According to the bi-annual economic review conducted by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the umbrella body of manufacturers in the country, the increase in inventory can be attributed to the drop in the purchasing power of Nigerians, resulting from sustained inflationary pressures.
Additionally, the cash crunch that affected the economy in the first quarter of 2023, following the implementation of the Naira Redesign policy, has further worsened the situation.
Despite these challenges, the report reveals that the manufacturing sector has experienced a decline in factory output. In 2022, the sector’s factory output decreased by 9.7 percent, amounting to N6.67 trillion, compared to N7.39 trillion in 2021.
Commenting on the development, Director General, MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, stated: “Inventory of unsold goods in the sector totalled N469.66 billion in 2022 as against N384.58 billion recorded in 2021.
The high inventory recorded in the period is attributed to low purchasing power in the economy due to the declining real income of households following the continuous increase in inflationary pressures in the country.
“This is worsened by the Naira Redesign policy which began in the last quarter of 2022. The withdrawal of a large amount of the ‘old Naira’ without commensurate replacement with the ‘new notes’ resulted in a cash crunch in the economy with very limited means of purchasing items by households across the country.
“Inventory of unsold finished products in the manufacturing sector increased to N282.56 billion in the second half of 2022 up from N169.75 billion recorded in the corresponding half of 2021; thus, indicating N112.81 billion or 66 percent increase over the period. It also increased by N85.46 billion or 51 percent when compared with N187.1 billion recorded in the first half of the year.
“In the second half of 2022 as the cost of wheat and other food inputs increased; prices of fuels, particularly diesel rose by over 50 percent; cost of transportation logistics including shipping escalated even as the effect of COVID-19 pandemic is yet to fully die down. In addition to these challenges was the CBN policy on Redesigning the Naira.
“The CBN policy created a cash crunch that debilitated economic activities in the last quarter of 2022. This particularly affected the manufacturing sector adversely as it was extremely difficult to sell most of the Fast-Moving consumer Goods (FMCG) and other commodities by the sector in the period.” He called on the government to formulate and implement a national policy that would address the current high inflation in the country.
Also speaking on the situation, MAN President, Francis Meshioye said: “The manufacturing sector has been struggling with crashing sales, mainly attributable to the sustained naira scarcity. A continuing decline in sale volumes will necessitate production cuts and a reevaluation of investments in the sector.
“Specifically, if sales proceeds can no longer sustain business overheads and operating expenses, businesses will be forced to scale down their operations which would result in factory closures, job losses, a decline in exports and much more.”
Operators within the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry are calling upon national and sub-national governments in Nigeria to reconsider their approach to revenue mobilization. They argue that targeting the FMCG sub-sector has resulted in a sluggish pace of growth within the industry.
Director, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, Mr. Ekuma Eze, who made the plea at a recent event, said the FMCG sector has borne the brunt of such revenue mobilisation drives.
According to him, the FMCGs, which form the largest chunk of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria, and the fourth largest sector of the nation’s economy sector, are overburdened with taxes and levies, compared with their counterparts in other countries.
Eze said the introduction of, and increase in taxes, in recent times, bore eloquent testimony that companies in the nation’s FMCG remain the target of the government’s revenue drive.
Company income tax rate in Nigeria is 30 percent for companies with gross turnover greater than N100 million, compared to an Africa average of 23.5% and a worldwide average of 23.4 percent.
He stated further: “Tertiary Education Tax is now 3 percent going by the Finance Bill 2022.
“There’s been a consistent increase in excise tax for beer and tobacco companies while N10/1 excise tax was introduced in June 2022.
“The introduction of this new tax regime, due to price elasticity of demand, which is high among lower income consumers, who are major consumers of the products, has led to reduction in sales and a revenue decline of 16 percent between June 1 and December 2022.”
He also lamented the negative impact of the recent Naira Redesign Policy on the sector, noting that the policy had succeeded in significantly reducing sales between February and March, this year, by between 20 percent and 60 percent.
According to him, the fallout of this is the re-organisation option being contemplated by some companies; a development, he noted, may further compound the nation’s unemployment issue.
“Many FMCGs reported significant sales decreases in February and March by between 20 to 60%. Many of these businesses are planning to restructure, which will worsen the unemployment problem,” Eze added.
Recall that MAN had issued a statement on May 2, 2023 condemning the recently released 2023 Fiscal Policy Measures, FPM, by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, saying that it would lead to industry recession, capacity under-utilisation, and layoffs of workers.
Also commenting, Dr Chinyere Almona, Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), lamented that the rising inflationary pressure has significant and worrisome impacts on both the household and business sectors.
Her words: “Since February 2016 to date, the country has recorded a double-digit monthly inflation rate, with an adverse effect on the size of its middle class.
“Apart from eroding purchasing power, it has led to inventory stockpiles. If left unchecked, the high inflation may further constrain production, lead to a steeper rise in poverty figures, frustrate economic growth, and lead to higher unemployment and non-competitive exports, especially in the sub-region. LCCI is concerned that despite consistent monetary policy rate hikes, taming the inflation trend has remained futile.
We, however, appeal to the government to implement fiscal measures, such as reducing/ removing taxes on staple food items to protect the most vulnerable as well as spur demand-side growth.”
The price of Bonny Light, Nigeria’s premium crude grade, fell by 5.09 percent to $59.62 per barrel on Wednesday, raising fresh concerns over the viability of the nation’s 2025 budget.
The decline comes amid renewed global economic tensions triggered by a new round of tariff hikes from the United States earlier this week.
Compounding the situation is the recent decision by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies to raise oil production by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) starting in May 2025.
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Experts warn that the dual pressure of weak prices and lower-than-expected output could jeopardize the N54.99 trillion budget, which is benchmarked on an oil price of $75 per barrel and daily production of 2.06 million bpd.
However, data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shows actual output, including condensates, stood at 1.67 million bpd in February.
“This is a serious problem as we have just completed the first quarter of the year. We have three more quarters to go, meaning that we have serious issues in our hands, if the situation persists,” said Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE).
“It poses a very serious challenge to our economic management team. First, it poses a risk to our revenue. Second, it poses a risk to our exchange rate.
“Our economy is dependent on foreign exchange earnings. The low oil price would put pressure on foreign exchange earnings. We all know the implications on a weak exchange rate on the economy,” he added.
Meanwhile, the falling price of crude oil may lead to a reduction in the cost of petroleum products in the domestic market.
“Industry findings suggest that major players in the downstream sector could announce lower pump prices for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the coming days.
“This should be expected in a deregulated market. If the fall in crude oil prices persists for a while, it would impact developments in the value chain,” said Ehimen Joseph, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN).
Another industry operator, who declined to be named, confirmed signs of an impending price adjustment.
“Everything is pointing towards pump price reduction this week. One of the nation’s refineries has stopped printing its petrol tickets. There are claims there would be a petrol price review before Tuesday.
“All those who paid for the program are likely to get a discount on the new price, and then tickets will be issued. This is a reflection of the general fall in the prices of crude oil in the international market,” the operator said.
Depot prices are already showing a downward trend.
According to petroleumprice.ng, rates at Mainland, A.Y.M., and Ever have dropped to N918, N919, and N918 per litre respectively.
Similarly, Prudent now sells at N912 per litre, Eterna at N897, and Soroman at N915.
In a statement released after a virtual meeting on April 3, OPEC said: “The eight OPEC+ countries, which previously announced additional voluntary adjustments in April and November 2023, namely Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, met virtually on 3 April 2025, to review global market conditions and outlook.”
The Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ECCIMA) has applauded the contributions of the Pan African Conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) to the growth of Nigeria’s economy and Arica’s development.
Deputy President of the ECCIMA, Eric Chime, made the assertion at Dangote Group’s Special Day at the ongoing 2025 Enugu International Trade Fair.
He opined that the Group through its various investments has contributed to the growth and development of the domestic economy.
Welcoming dignitaries, trade exhibitors, industry stakeholders, and the general public to the event, Chime, hailed the longstanding partnership between the ECCIMA and Dangote Group, commending the company’s role as a consistent sponsor and supporter of the trade fair over the years.
“We are highly delighted to welcome Dangote Plc once again to their special day at the ongoing trade fair. Their continued presence and commitment have been instrumental to the success of this annual gathering,” Chime stated.
“Dangote’s contribution to the Nigerian economy is enormous spanning virtually every sector, from cement and food production to their recent game-changing entry into the oil and gas sector through the Dangote Refinery,” he added.
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He emphasized that the impact of the refinery, especially in regulating petroleum product prices, deserves national recognition and support.
“We call on the Federal Government to continue to support Dangote Group in its efforts to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians,” he urged.
Chime further praised the President of the DIL, Aliko Dangote, for his visionary leadership and relentless drive for innovation, noting that the Dangote business empire represents a perfect example of what entrepreneurial excellence can achieve through research, resilience, and dedication.
On his part, Deputy Regional Director, Southeast, Dangote Cement Plc, Ayirioritse Okerentie, expressed gratitude to the ECCIMA for providing a viable platform to engage stakeholders and show case Dangote Group’s contributions to Nigeria’s economic development.
He said that the theme of the Fair, “Developing Nigeria’s Industrial Sector/SMEs for Economic Advancement & Global Recognition” speaks directly to the core mission of Dangote Group.
Okerentie said, “As Africa’s largest indigenous manufacturing conglomerate, we are focused on Production, Prosperity, Power, and Pride. We believe the industrial sector, and by extension SMEs, can play a transformative role in job creation, import substitution, and overall economic advancement. The industrial/manufacturing sector has the capacity to impact significantly on the economy especially in the creation of jobs, provision of goods, reduction in imports of finished products and adding of value to our raw materials. It is generally accepted that a nation’s economic wellbeing is largely dependent on the industrial/manufacturing sector.
“The industrial/manufacturing sector is labour intensive, could create millions of both direct and indirect employments for people of diverse skills such as administrators, accountants, engineers, technicians, marketing and sales among others. It can also create indirect employment for supply chain actors in other sectors of the economy such as raw materials suppliers, logistics and transportation, farmers, and miners.”
According to Okerentie, companies that want to be ahead of competition, must invest in innovation, research and development. Therefore, developing Nigeria industrial sector requires massive investment in technology, adoption of best in-class global practices. This is the best way for products from Nigeria to gain global recognition. When your products are of global standards, global recognition becomes easy.
He noted that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the conglomerate’s recent flagship project has exported refined petroleum products such as aviation fuel, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), automotive gas oil, naphtha to many African, European, American and Asian markets. These products, he stated, conform to the Euro V specifications.
Nigeria’s Leadership Newspapers have named the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, as the Person of the Year.
The honour was bestowed upon him at the 17th edition of the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
On the occasion, Alh Dangote expressed the view that a collaboration between the public and the private sector would help resolve Nigeria’s economic conundrum.
According to him, the duo of public and private sectors must work together to tackle Nigeria’s socio-economic and political challenges.
Alh Dangote, who’s Africa’s wealthiest person, was represented by his Special Adviser, Engr Mansur Ahmed who collected the award on his behalf.
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He said, “On behalf of the award recipients and stakeholders gathered here, I would like to assure all Nigerians of our commitment to continue doing everything we can to collectively make Nigeria a better place for the benefit of the present and future generations.”
On the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors, he opined that: “Given the apocalyptic developments currently unfolding in the global economic arena, it is imperative that leading stakeholders from all sectors of every economy must close ranks and collaborate to advance the interest of their nation.”
He thanked the Leadership Newspapers for considering him for such a lofty award, adding that the recognition has inspired him to do more for his country.
The theme for this year’s Awards is: Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria’s Fiscal Federalism, and the keynote address was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by Dr. Aliyu Umar Modibbo.
The Leadership Person of the Year Award is coming in the wake of numerous other recognitions.
Recall that on November 14, 2011, the Nigerian Government conferred on Aliko Dangote the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), becoming the first person outside government functionaries to bag the honour.
In 2013, he was conferred with the highest national honour in the Republic of Benin, the Grand Commander of the National Order of the Republic of Benin.
Similarly, in 2027, he was awarded the Officer of the Congolese Order of Merit.
In August 2022, Dangote was conferred with the Commander of the Order of Merit of Niger award by the then President of the Republic of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum in Niamey, in appreciation for his services rendered to the Republic of Niger and as well as a tribute to his business acumen and philanthropy.
In 2024, he was conferred with the prestigious award of Commander of the National Order of the Lion, by President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal, for his commitment to economic growth and sustainable development across the continent.
In April 2014, TIME Magazine listed him among its 100 ‘Most Influential People in the World.
For six consecutive years, 2013 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Forbes listed him as the ‘Most Powerful Man in Africa’ alongside the Egyptian President Abdel Fatteh el Sisi.
He was Vanguard Personality of the Year in 2022 and The Guardian Man of the Year 2015.
In 2012 and 2024, the Daily Sun, Nigeria’s leading tabloid named him the Sun Man of the Year.
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