Business
MAN, NECA Seeks Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Intervention over Factories Shutdown by LASWARCO

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is imploring the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to use his good office to order the immediate reopening of the closed factories of Nigerian Bottling Company, Friesland Campina, and Guinness Nigeria Plc by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO).
This is even as the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) condemned the regulatory actions by LASWARCO, warning that it is capable of scaring potential investors away from the state.
In an open message to Governor Sanwo-Olu today, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the Director-General of MAN, said that the association is constrained to convey this open message to the Governor of Lagos State, as all attempts at approaching the relevant heads of agencies and ministry have failed.
He said: “MAN is appalled by the inauspicious act of sealing factories over their purported refusal to pay the astronomical and unjustifiable water abstraction fees imposed by the Commission.
This action is ill-timed and quite unfortunate, as the Commission and MAN had engaged in meaningful dialogue and reached some agreements over the lingering issue about three months ago.
This was expected to culminate in an MoU to commence in January 2025. Only three weeks ago, another round of discussions took place between LASWARCO and representatives of MAN, including the affected member companies, which led to ongoing discussions in the companies as to the most viable option for addressing the alleged outstanding payments from earlier contested fees.
It was while these discussions were going on and during the Yuletide that the Commission decided to cause this major and unwise shutdown of the companies.
It is important to properly situate this inappropriate action within the context of the prevailing inclement operating environment in general and the downturn in the manufacturing sector in particular.
A situation where industries are burdened with payments above N100 million for generating water for production purposes, in the face of the government’s failure to supply the same, is unfair.
The exorbitant fees and the untoward means of extracting payment exemplify the negative impact of the tyranny of regulation on private business.
To date, manufacturers across the country are saddled with more than N1.2 billion of unsold inventory, borrowing at more than 30 percent and struggling under a debilitating 250 percent increase in the cost of power.
Numerous taxes, fees, and levies by the three tiers of government and non-state actors in some cases, numbering between 60 to 120, confront each manufacturer, not to mention the disruption of production activities due to insecurity and the high cost of logistics.
There are more! So to add this oppressive water abstraction fee in Lagos state that may potentially be adopted by other States presents an ominous and rancorous future for manufacturers in particular and private businesses in general.
MAN, therefore, implores the Governor of Lagos state to use his good office to order the immediate reopening of the closed factories.
This will pave the way for a logical and passable conclusion of the ongoing conversations on how to permanently resolve the matter of outstanding fees, as well as conclude the impending MoU between the Water Commission and the Organised Private Sector.
This is more so that the private sector is currently awaiting the finalization of the text of the MoU from LASWARCO. We are full of expectations that immediate action is taken in the interest of the state’s economy and to forestall a possible degeneration in the already tense business atmosphere.
The possible loss of jobs and its attendant socioeconomic implications, as well as the negative signal to the investing public, should serve as a deterrent and encourage a business-friendly regulatory environment.”
NECA’s Director-General, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in the matter to save businesses in Lagos from further woes.
The director-general emphasized that organized businesses are not against responsible regulations.
He, however, noted that in the quest for revenue generation, the LASWARCO and, indeed, all other regulatory agencies should adopt a more legitimate and civil approach rather than the predominant disruptive pattern of recent times.
“Those patterns are directly against the efforts of the Federal Government to attract investment, promote job creation, and facilitate responsible regulations,” Oyerinde said.
Oyerinde described the demand for unjustifiable multimillion sums as water abstraction levies from businesses that had already paid many other forms of taxes for the same activities they use the water for as unreasonable.
“May we reiterate that it is the responsibility of the government to provide water for its citizens and businesses,” he said.
He noted that the government was not currently fulfilling this noble responsibility. “
It will be highly insensitive, harsh, and punitive for the same government that has failed to adequately provide water to also impose punitive levies on businesses that are constrained to make investments in providing water to run their businesses,” he said.
Business
PENGASSAN – Dangote Rift: A needless attack on private enterprise

The Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, has described the rift between Dangote Refinery and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) as unfortunate, and a needless attack on private enterprise.
He noted that the strike had far-reaching implications on residents and businesses, as factories suffered cuts in production schedules, with a hike in transportation fare.
Fielding questions from reporters at MAN House, yesterday, while announcing the association’s coming Annual General Meeting (AGM), he revealed that imported products, which were not suffering disruption, were likely to fill the gap and if the rift rears its head again, it would affect daily workers and people in the logistics value chain that rely on the products made in those factories.
Meanwhile, PENGASSAN has said it decided to suspend its two-day strike to protect the jobs of its members in Dangote Refinery.The President, Festus Osifo, explained that the union was unsatisfied with the posting of about 800 sacked staff to Dangote’s subsidiaries to prevent job loss.
Business
FG Spends $2.86bn on External Debts Servicing – CBN
By August 2025, debt service climbed to $302.3m, which was $22.35m or 8 per cent higher than the $279.95m of August 2024.

The Federal Government spent a total of $2.86 billion to service external debt in the first eight months of 2025.
This was disclosed in the international payment data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The figure shows that external debts accounted for 69.1 percent of the country’s total foreign payments of $4.14 billion in the period.
In the same eight-month stretch of 2024, debt service stood at $3.06 billion, representing 70.7 percent of total foreign payments of $4.33 billion.
The figures show that while the absolute value of debt service fell by $198m between 2024 and 2025.
The share of debt in overall foreign payments has remained persistently high, with about seven out of every ten dollars leaving the country used to meet debt obligations.
The monthly breakdown highlights the volatility of Nigeria’s repayment schedule:
In January 2025, $540.67m was spent compared with $560.52m in January 2024, a fall of $19.85m or 3.5 per cent.
February 2025 recorded $276.73m, slightly below the $283.22m in February 2024, down by $6.49m or 2.3 per cent.March 2025 surged to $632.36m against $276.17m in March 2024, an increase of $356.19m or 129 per cent.
In April 2025, payments reached $557.79m, which was $342.59m or 159 per cent higher than the $215.20m of April 2024.
May 2025 stood at $230.92m, sharply lower than the $854.37m in May 2024, a drop of $623.45m or 73 per cent.
June 2025 rose to $143.39m compared with $50.82m in June 2024, a rise of $92.57m or 182 per cent.
July 2025 fell to $179.95m, down by $362.55m or 66.8 per cent from $542.5m in July 2024.
By August 2025, debt service climbed to $302.3m, which was $22.35m or 8 per cent higher than the $279.95m of August 2024.
Business
ECOWAS Bank okays $308.63m for Nigeria, Guinea
The bank gave the approval during its 93rd Ordinary Session convened at the it’s headquarters in Lomé, the Togolese capital.

ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), has approved $308.631 million for the implementation of various projects in Taraba State, Nigeria, and a $40 million credit line for Vista Bank, Guinea, to bolster trade-related activities, including import-export operations and commercial value chains.
The bank gave the approval during its 93rd Ordinary Session convened at the it’s headquarters in Lomé, the Togolese capital.
President and Chairman of Board of Directors of the bank, Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, said the newly approved financing would advance strategic public and private sector initiatives, aligned with EBID’s mandate to promote sustainable development throughout the Economic Community of West African States by strengthening regional integration and fostering economic diversification.
The approved facilities include the $98.18 for a 50 MW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Taraba State, Nigeria, , which will augment the supply of reliable, clean electricity to spur inclusive economic development, alleviate energy poverty, and improve environmental sustainability.
Anticipated benefits include direct electricity access for roughly 390,000 individuals, enhanced power reliability for at least 200 public institutions, the creation of 400 direct jobs during construction, and approximately 50 permanent operational roles.
The bank noted that an estimated 1,200–1,500 indirect jobs were expected to emerge across supply chains, maintenance services,and small businesses.
Another facility is the $79.219 million modern rice processing complex and 10,000-hectare irrigated rice production unit also in Taraba State.
Also included is the $91.232 million facility for Taraba State Industrial Park, an initiative conceived to accelerate local industrialisation and economic diversification through the establishment of a modern, integrated industrial ecosystem.
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