Business
JUST IN: Manufacturers Rejects 40% Electricity Tariff Hike on Mere 4000MW
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has rejected the planned 40 percent hike in electricity tariff, which will become effective from July 1, calling on the government to shelve the increase until electricity generation , transmission and supply improves in the country.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), had said that the current tariff increase is based on the Service Based Tariff, SBT, benchmarked on an exchange rate of N441/$ and inflation of 16.97 per cent.
It argued that since the value of the naira to the dollar now hovers above N700 and current rate of inflation at 22.45 percent, it is necessary to increase tariff to mitigate operators’ cost of operations.
However, MAN, in its reaction, that beyond the present embattling high prices, starting July a 40 percent hike at this time is simply outrageous.
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the Director-General of MAN, said that the expectation of the manufacturers is that the Federal Government and the NERC will ensure improvement in electricity generation, transmission and distribution that will lead to adequate and reliable electricity supply in the country, rather than increasing the tariff on the mere 4000MW to meet all revenue needs of stakeholders in the electricity supply industry.
” Government should ensure that at least 90 percent of electricity consumers are metered to ensure consumption reflective electricity bill payment, formulate electricity policies that will aid investment in energy industry to increase generation capacities that will usher in large scale production of electricity and ensure effective implementation of the recent Electricity Act (2023) that is aimed at increasing the electricity supply in the country,” he said.
The Association urges NERC to
▪︎ Eradicate outrageous bills by closing the metering gap through the liberalization of ultimate users’ access to effective mass metering;
▪︎Ensure the connection of all consumers to the electricity grid to avoid free riding and unfair charges on the few connected consumers;
▪︎ Work on efforts to increase the electricity supply base in order to distribute the total cost among a high number of consumers at a much lower unit cost;
▪︎ States and private investors should rise up to the challenge by taking advantage of the Electricity Act 2023 to eradicate the energy poverty of their people.
Likely Effects of Tariff Hike On Manufacturing industries
As a matter of fact, a further rise in electricity tariff could lead to the following:
i. Costs of production will soar: Higher electricity tariff will directly increase the cost of production for manufacturers. Already, we have energy constituting between 28-40% in the cost structure of manufacturing industries.
You can imagine the impact on manufacturing industries that are energy-intensive such as metal processing, heavy machinery, and chemicals manufacturing.
ii. Profit margins will reduce: A spike in the electricity tariff will erode the profit margin of the manufacturers and reduce their ability to expand operations and create new jobs
iii. High probability of activities paralysis: This is a definite possibility among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are unable to accommodate the higher price.
iv. Potential decrease in the revenue collectable by government: The hike in electricity tariff will reduce the manufacturers’ profitability and by extension the quantum of taxes and fees payable to the three tiers of Government. Manufacturers remain the largest income taxpayer in the country. Therefore, in the event of poor income generation due to high costs of production, the government purse will suffer.
v. Manufacturers will ultimately pass on the additional cost to the consumers of their products: This will increase the cost of local made products in the market and complicate the rising inflation rate in the country.
vi. Recession of manufacturing activities: An increase in electricity tariff will reduce the purchasing capability. One of the resulting effects is the fall in demand and recession of manufacturing activities over time.
vii. The sector’s competitiveness will definitely worsen: The high cost of the products will make locally produced items less competitive, when compared with imported alternatives.
This is also true of exports, as Nigeria products may find it more difficult to penetrate foreign markets. Such a move will restrict our exports earnings because it will be impossible to compete with counterparts in the global trading environment.
viii. High probability of outward investment. Some manufacturing industries may consider shifting production to other economies with lower electricity tariffs and guaranteed availability.
Business
FG restricts paracetamol ,16 other products for local manufacturing
The cocoa industry is also shielded; cocoa butter, powder, and cakes, as well as chocolate preparations in blocks or bars exceeding two kilograms, are listed as prohibited items.
• President Bola Tinubu
The Federal Government has totally banned the importation of seventeen products including paracetamol tablets and syrups, metronidazole, cotrimoxazole, and chloroquine from entering into the country through any port of entry.
The Federal Ministry of Finance on Saturday released the latest revised import prohibition list, dated April 1, 2026, under HS Codes 3003.10.00.00 through 3004.90.90.00
Other widely used health products, such as multivitamin capsules, aspirin, folic acid, and various ointments like penicillin and gentamycin, are now restricted to local manufacturers.
Furthermore, refined vegetable oils in retail packs of five litres or less, encompassing soya-bean, palm, and sunflower oils, are prohibited.
However, crude vegetable oil and specific fats like hydrogenated vegetable fats under HS 1516.20.10.00 are permitted to enter the country for industrial use.
In the retail and consumer goods category, the prohibition covers cane or beet sugar in retail packs and chemically pure sucrose containing added flavouring or colouring.
The cocoa industry is also shielded; cocoa butter, powder, and cakes, as well as chocolate preparations in blocks or bars exceeding two kilograms, are listed as prohibited items.
Other household essentials now restricted to local production include tomato paste, whole tomatoes put up for retail sale, and mineral and aerated waters.
The hygiene sector is notably impacted, as all forms of soaps and organic surface-active products (commonly known as detergents) are now barred from importation under HS Codes 3401.11.10.00 through 3402.90.00.00 when intended for retail sale.
Even everyday stationery is affected, as ballpoint pens and their refills are barred from importation, though the government made a specific concession for importing pen tips. Industrial and construction materials were not left out of the revised trade policy.
Bagged cement remains on the prohibited list under HS Code 2523.29.00.00, alongside NPK 15:15:15 fertilizers and similar variants.
The packaging industry faces a continued ban on corrugated paper, paper boards, and cartons, while the glass industry is protected by a prohibition on hollow glass bottles exceeding 150 milliliters in capacity.
Business
MAN Condemns World Bank’s Call for Nigeria PMS imports
MAN, described the April 2026 Nigeria Development Update (NDU) by the World Bank, as ” structurally flawed, counterproductive, and highly detrimental to Nigeria’s industrialization agenda
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) urged the Federal Government and the petroleum industry regulators to disregard the recent prescription by the World Bank that Nigeria should open its borders to imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to solve inflationary crisis.
In a position document titled ‘FUEL IMPORTATION PRESCRIPTION AS A RECIPE FOR DEINDUSTRIALISATION AND NATIONAL ECONOMIC RETROGRESSION,’ MAN, described the April 2026 Nigeria Development Update (NDU) by the World Bank, as ” structurally flawed, counterproductive, and highly detrimental to Nigeria’s industrialization agenda.”
Segun Ajayi – Kadir, its Director -General, noted that While we welcome the Bretton Woods institution’s clarification that national energy security is paramount in today’s volatile global climate, we reiterate our fundamental objection to the initial premise that reinstating petrol import licenses is a viable, long-term strategy to avert an inflation spike. It is not, and should not be considered as an option.
The Association emphasised that importation of PMS will undermine domestic refining capacity; contribute to the disruption of the foreign exchange market; disincentivize investment in and expansion of local refining, and truncate the relief that Nigerians have started to enjoy since the advent of Dangote Refinery and other local refineries.
Our Position
The World Bank’s report posited that the suspension of import licenses stifled competition, allowing domestic ex-depot prices to rise, thereby driving up inflation.
This analysis panders to short-term bias and does not take into account the following foundational macroeconomic realities of the Nigerian economy:
The FX Drain and the Major Driver of Inflation
Nigeria’s inflation is fundamentally cost-push and can be aggressively driven by exchange rate volatility.
Therefore, promoting PMS imports means returning to the era of fiercely competing for scarce foreign exchange (FX) to fund foreign refineries. Such depletion of FX depreciates the Naira further.
A weakened Naira spikes the cost of importing critical raw materials and machinery for domestic manufacturers, triggering a far bigger wave of inflation across all sectors of the economy than a temporary 12% differential in fuel pump prices.
Business
CBN introduces money market instrument NOFR
The introduction of NOFR positions Nigeria alongside global benchmarks such as SOFR in the United States, SONIA in the United Kingdom, €STR in the Eurozone, and TONA in Japan, while also complementing Africa’s JIBAR benchmark in South Africa.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Financial Markets Dealers Association on Friday announced the introduction of the Nigerian Overnight Financing Rate (NOFR) as a new benchmark for the country’s money market.
The disclosure was contained in a press statement issued by the CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali.
According to the statement, the introduction of NOFR positions Nigeria alongside global benchmarks such as SOFR in the United States, SONIA in the United Kingdom, €STR in the Eurozone, and TONA in Japan, while also complementing Africa’s JIBAR benchmark in South Africa.
The apex bank explained that the new rate aligns Nigeria with global standards for short-term interest rate benchmarks and is expected to improve pricing efficiency in the money market
“NOFR was developed to align Nigeria with global best practices in short-term interest rate benchmarks.
It is expected to improve price discovery and transparency while promoting consistent pricing of money market instruments,” it added.
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