The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has appealed to the Federal Government and regulatory agencies for understanding of the plight of entrepreneurs in the country, particularly in the current environment characterized by several policy weaknesses and consumer apathy.
The Director General of the Association, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, who made the appeal in view of the increasing negative reports on the industrial sector, urged regulators and consumers of manufactured goods to engender an atmosphere that promotes objectivity and fairness, while safeguarding the interest of the consumer and protecting the business and integrity of the manufacturer.
Specifically, the industrialist stressed the need for intentional steps to protect manufacturers from the adverse effects of social media trial and defamation and ensuring fairness for all stakeholders.
Commenting on the Impact of Social Media Defamation, Ajayi-Kadir cautioned that the negative media reports could negatively impact businesses and even threaten the existence of many manufacturing companies.
The Director-General argued that manufacturers should be protected from the adverse effects of unverified negative claims about locally manufactured products.
While acknowledging the right of consumers to lodge legitimate complaints through appropriate channels, Ajayi-Kadir underscored the importance of holding consumers accountable for spreading false information about local products and attempting to vilify local manufacturers in the public opinion place.
Citing a recent incident involving a manufacturing company, Erisco Foods, with a dissatisfied customer to justify his argument, the Director-General harped on the need for equal protection of manufacturers and consumers’ rights.
According to him, the incident underscored the importance of diligent investigation as carried out by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), which exonerated the manufacturer of the said product.
Ajayi-Kadir said that the two agencies should actually be commended for unravelling the truth of the case.
Emphasizing the need to support Nigerian manufacturers, he canvassed the need for behavioural change among consumers by patronizing locally manufactured goods and speaking about their quality to consumers in the global market.
