The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has described the high cost of production as a major obstacle to the competitiveness of made-in-Nigeria goods. The Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, told The PUNCH that Nigerian products were of standard quality but struggled to compete with imported goods due to the harsh operating environment. Ajayi-Kadir addressed the status of Nigerian products in the international market, noting that export remained a viable option for manufacturers but was hampered by the high cost of production. He said, “Export is always a viable opportunity for you to increase your profitability. I mean, if you can produce and export, you will earn dollars, improve the economy and even assist you in importing some of your machines and raw materials that are not locally available. “But you then ask, is this export for export’s sake? Because if it is exported, you must be able to sell it in the international market. “So it is not just enough for you to put your goods on a ship or aircraft and then take it into another country.

Punch