The Managing Director of NISPO Porcelain company Ltd, Afam Mallinson Ukatu has lamented over the activities of illegal miners in the manufacturing sector that is causing hazards to the nation as a whole, as well as affecting the activities in the sector.

Ukatu disclosed this when the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association Of Nigeria (CICAN) paid him a courtesy visit on Friday in Lagos.

Ukatu, who is also National Chairman of Non-Metallic Mining Group sector of Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN), said, “I am calling the Federal Government to put in place the proper policy that will drive the sector.

“There are lots of illegal miners in the sector thereby causing hazards to the nation as a whole, as well as affecting our activities in the sector.

“We need policies that will make the sector competitive enough so that we would also have what to bring to the table especially now that the country has signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA), otherwise Nigeria will lose out-: Natural Gas pricing is a big problem to manufacturers. The government are still charging Gas price in dollars and paying equivalent in Naira, he said.

Ukatu however, explained that there has been a long battle between tax authorities and manufacturers in the country over multiple taxation of their businesses, saying if the issue of multiple taxation is not urgently addressed by government, more manufacturing companies are likely to exit the economy.

He stressed further that government should look into multiple taxation and vat. “The increase on the 2.2% on Vat is going to affect the manufacturers, if the policy did not take out manufacturers are not excluded part of the people that will pay the 2.2% Vat.

“I have always agued which is also a known fact that taxes are being paid on your turnover, but what of a situation where a manufacturer is losing money. It is obvious that a manufacturer produces and still losses money and you are still expected to pay your tax. There should be a system whereby you are evaluated by the tax authorities just like China, USA and other countries.

“There is what they keep as special rebate for manufacturing companies, because this is what encourages people to go into manufacturing. Without manufacturing, there wouldn’t be any way to for high rate of unemployment to reduce. Government can only provide about 10 percent of the total job requirement of the population, manufacturing can generate over 60 – 70 percent of the needed employment”, he added.