The Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), has called on state governors in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country to harmonise taxes to make it easier for investors in the states.
MAN national president, Otunba Francis Meshioye, made the call yesterday in Port Harcourt, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 39th annual general meeting of the Rivers and Bayelsa States chapter of the association.
The AGM, which had the theme: “Re-Igniting Industrialisation And Entrepreneurship In the South-South region,” also featured exhibition by different manufacturing companies in the country.
Meshioye said, “I want to talk on the issue of taxes. We want the state governors to look into the issue of multiplication of taxes. There is the need to to harmonise taxes in these states and make it easier for manufacturers.”
He called for a closer relationship between state governments in the South-South zone and the association, in order to restore the full confidence of investors in the zone.
The MAN president urged the federal government to take steps towards the transformation of the Port Harcourt Port and the Onne Sea Port, so as to restore their full potentials.
In his welcome address, chairman of MAN, Rivers/Bayelsa States chapter, Elder Vincent Okuku, called on the government to focus its attention on key sectors of the economy, especially the manufacturing sector by providing conducive environment.
Okuku said, “It is important that government should focus on key sectors, like the manufacturing sector, by providing conducive environment for investors.”