No matter how we cut it, Nigeria cannot progress unless we set ourselves production targets that must be met whatever the consequences. We import too much at the moment and that trend can only be reversed by upping local production

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Rather pathetically, we are spending about $11bn importing products we can easily produce locally

[2] Of late, the Central Bank of Nigeria has waded into the matter by drawing up a list of products for which foreign exchange will not be made available to importers but that is only one tenth of the battle.

[3] You can ban imports but such bans will become unenforceable unless you fill the vacuum with local production. If you do not, all that will happen is smuggling will thrive.

[4] It is pathetic that Nigeria is importing produce which she has in abundance. I want to see President Tinubu bite the bullet and set production targets in Nigeria. Yes, people will hate him for it but leadership is not about being popular

[5] In somewhere like Delta State for instance where there is an abundance of wood, why has the state government not gathered all the industrialists in Government House and read them the riot act

[6] Can someone please tell me why the Delta State government has not set local industrialists a target to manufacture 10m tonnes of toothpicks annually

[7] In any developing economy, industrial targets are simply a must

[8] Setting industrial targets was one thing the Soviet Union gave the world. They delivered on this big time and Vladimir Putin has continued that tradition. As we speak, Russia’s oligarchs always meet investment and industrial targets set for them by the Kremlin

[9] Sadly, President Tinubu has not pushed this matter. I would like to see him send a Nigerian Production Bill 2026 to the National Assembly

[10] What I would love to see is the trade and minister declare that Nigeria has set herself the following export revenue targets unfailingly for 2027:

[1] Steel nails -$35m

[2] Toothpicks - $18m

[3] Petrol - $6bn

[4] Fertilizer - $500m

[5] Brazilian hair - $400m

[6] Sugar - $406m

[7] Rice - $302m

[8] Fish - $170m

[9] Generators - $2bn

[10] Phone handsets - $745m

ayoakinfe@gmail.com