By Michael Ovat
The leadership of Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN), South East zone, has expressed extremely worried over high cost of electricity supply to members across the zone.
The MAN Chairman, South East Zone, Lady Adaora Ogochukwu Chukwudozie, who expressed the disatisfaction on behalf of the Association while speaking to Journalists shortly after a closed of one-day MAN South East Industrial Energy Solutions and Investment Symposium, held at Prof Dora Akunyili women development center in Awka on Friday, July 31st, 2026, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government, the South East governors and other concern stakeholders to urgently intervened to avert total socio-economic collapse in the Nigeria’s economic region.
She noted that at the moment, most Manufacturers in the region are operating below 30 percent of their stock capacity due to high cost of electricity.
“By the grace of Almighty God, today we have officially and successfully launched a National Initiative known as Industrial Energy Adoption Programme, a unit body of MAN called, “Manpower Development Company Limited (MPDCL)” and the sole-aimed of the initiative is to provide adequate productivity, to build confidence, to strengthen partnerships and to help manufacturers make informed decisions about affordable, reliable and sustainable industrial power in Nigeria.
“Before the launched, we have been complaining of high cost of energy supply to relevant authorities without any positive response and the situation has brought a negative effect on the cost of production and finishing products.
“Many Manufacturing hubs are almost going moribund in Nigeria. And most of them in the south east region are operating below 30 percent on their stock capacity due to lack of money to buy diesel to power their generators.
“We Manufacturers in South east region are the worst hit because, we are currently eluded from the National Gas Pipeline and as a result of that, we have high sky infantry stocks in our various warehouses.
“The development has caused us more disadvantaged and less privilege in the Manufacturing sector of this country.
“With all honesty, the electricity challenges has really affected our existence in the south east region, but I strongly believe that we this new initiative, our electricity supply will increase to at least 45 percent.
“Manufacturing remains one of the strongest drivers of economic growth, industrialization and job creation. Yet manufacturers across Nigeria are operating in an increasingly challenging business environment.
“For manufacturers, energy is far more than a production input. It is the foundation of productivity, competitiveness and growth. When energy becomes unreliable or
unaffordable, production costs increase, expansion slows, competitiveness declines and investment becomes more difficult. That is why energy has become one of the defining issues for the future of manufacturing in Nigeria.
“As Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, we recognised that our responsibility could not end with identifying these challenges. Leadership requires us to do more than discuss problems. It requires us to create
opportunities for practical solutions, meaningful partnerships and informed decisionmaking. That is why we are here today.
“This Symposium is more than a conference. It is a platform for collaboration. It brings together Government, regulators, financiers, technology providers, engineering experts and manufacturers to explore practical solutions to one of the most pressing challenges (energy) every Nigerian is currently facing.
Lady Chukwudozie commended Juddy-Bolema Industries Limited to become one of the first manufacturers to participate in this initiative.
She also commended governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for providing a conducive environment during the Programme.
On their separate remarks, the Secretary to Anambra State Government, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake and the Managing Director of HUAWEI Technologies Nigeria, Mr Green Quan ledges to partner with the Association to encouraged them boost the economic environment of the region.
The event with the Theme: From High Energy Costs to Affordable Power; An Opportunity for Manufacturers” also has in attendance the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Otunba Francis Meshioye, Traditional ruler of Umueri community, Igwe Ben Emeka and thousand members of MAN from Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States that constitute the association in South east zone.
