FG plans policy to protect manufacturers’ investment, innovations

The Federal Government on Friday it would soon reveal its policy that would protect investments and innovations of manufacturers in the country.
Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, made this known during a factory tour of Erisco Foods Limited in Lagos.
Abubakar said the policy would address issues of patent protection, reducing substandard products and strengthening the National Quality Infrastructure policy.
The minister said the ministry would liaise with other relevant ministries, farmers and stakeholders in the various value chain when formulating the policy.
She said the policy, which would be ready in the next few months, would enhance production capacity and create jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Abubakar added that the tour of Erisco Foods Factory and Warehouse revealed the use of innovation to control tomato waste in the country.
She said: “There has been lot of concerns about tomato waste.
“The use of dried tomatoes into tomato paste by Erisco is quite innovative.
“It will open doors to other fruits processors.
“Once people believe it can be done, they will emulate the process to reduce food waste.”
The minister added that the Bank of Industry and the Central Bank of Nigeria were poised to assist manufacturers with finance through their interventions and funds for various clusters to boost industrialisation.
Eric Umeofia, the Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods, said the company introduced the use of dried tomatoes for production of its tomato paste due to unavailability of fresh tomatoes in the country.
Umeofia said: “I designed and fabricated the machine that was used to produce the sun dried tomatoes into paste.
“I am the only manufacturer that has the machine in Nigeria.
“It was developed in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s call to diversify the economy through industrialisation.
“The dried tomatoes make up for the shortage of the fresh ones.
“Once we have abundant supply of fresh tomatoes, we will switch back to full production with fresh tomatoes.
“We just acquired 2,700 hectares of land in Kaduna and we will partner with the farmers there to get raw materials for production.”
Umeofia urged Nigerians to patronise locally produced goods in order to create employment, boost industrialisation and grow the nation’s economy.
Frank Jacob, the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, said the facility tour was to address misunderstanding with the ministry and other stakeholders about Erisco Foods production process.
Jacob said: “As an association, we have a role to play as a mediator in the industry.
“We see manufacturing as a drive towards enhancing diversification and industrialisation in the country.”