By ABDULLAHI YAKUBU
THE minister of Industries, Ambassador Magaji Muhammad
has described the Mamuda Group of Industries Nigeria Limited as the only
company that excelled in judicious use of Export Expansion Grant (EEG)
compared to other leather industries in the country.
Ambassador Muhammad made the assertion during his tour to
industries on Tuesday in Kano.
During the tour, the minister was highly impressed with
what he saw at some plants which he described as genuine investment that
impacted directly or indirectly on the lives of many Nigerians.
He explained that job opportunities were created for the
youths who were visibly engaged in all the manufacturing outfits he visited.
Ambassador Muhammad reiterated the commitment of the
federal government to do everything possible to assist any firm whose
mission was the alleviation of the social problems of the society.
While commenting on the issue of EEG which seems to have
caused sleepless night to many manufacturers in the country, he said, sooner
or later the government would revert its decision on it so that genuine
investors could have a field day.
The minister stated further that the development he also
saw at various tanneries was an indication of a sign of advancement in
leather work as all the products presented before him could complete
favourably with the African markets and beyond.
Ambassador Muhammad also narrated that what pushed the
government to take stringent measures on the manufacturers over the issue of
EEG was masterminded by the fraudulent attitudes of some identified elements
of doom who normally acted under the company of the tanners to perpetuate
their nefarious activities.
He called on manufacturers nationwide to cooperate with
his ministry so that the laudable objective could be attainable in the near
future.
In his speech, the national chairman of the Farmers
Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Lawan Sule Garo expressed delight over minister's
visit which he described as one of the things the union was praying to
witness since his assumption of office.
He said, his council decided to invite the minister
officially to Kano so that he can assess the progress recorded in the
leather industry and ascertain the problems bedeviling the industry with a
view to solving them.
Alhaji Garo believed that through the courage of the
minister, leather and other textile products would receive more boost
calling on him to continue to fight the cause of justice as he has generally
promised at the instance of all the manufacturing industries he visited in
the state.
