By Ossom Raphael

Abuja – The Federal Government says it has in place policies needed to stimulates and ensure the nation’s economy come out stronger against the negative predictions of the economic watchers.

The government said the support would be provided to the manufacturing and other key sectors of the economy to boost their productivity as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Otumba Richard Adeniyi, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said this in Abuja during awards presentation to members of the Emergency Operations Centre of the Committee on Sustainable Production and Delivery of Essential Commodities during COVID-19.

The EOC was responsible in monitoring the transportation and delivery of essential goods during ban on interstate travel resulted from Covid-19 pandemic

“For the first time in our nation, we all have to come together to tackle the vulnerability that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed.

“As you all acknowledged, the lockdown that we have instituted to curb the spread of the virus resulted in a number of casualties across board, as jobs were lost and supply was disrupted and led to shortfall in movement of goods and services.

“Our manufacturing sector continues to be our key focus as our economy continues to grow.

“From the market intelligence findings, more than ever before, we need to boost local production of key commodities required.

“Therefore, moving forward, our efforts as a response team at the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment has been recognised and we have been mandated to lead the Presidential Task Force responsible to deliver increased capacity in local manufacturing”, Adeniyi said.

Also speaking, Mrs Mariam Katagum, Minister of State for Industry Trade and Investment, said the pandemic had created a consciousness among Nigerians on the need for all stakeholders to look inward in solving the economic challenges.

“From what happened during the pandemic, everyone was either producing a facemask or sanitisers.

“So what stops us after the pandemic to produce anything that we want to produce that we have the talent to do. This covid period has shown us we can achieve whatever we set out to do as a nation.”

On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, said that the government would do all it could to ensure that the impact of the pandemic does not cripple the economy.

“We must ensure that the Covid-19 pandemic does not cripple the economy and we must continue to produce and manufacture our products in a sustainable manner.

“The ministry has set a pace because we made sure livelihood was eased during the lockdown period,” he said.

Chairman of the EOC, Tijani Inuwa, the Manager Engr. Battah Ndirpaya and the Lead, Abimbola Olufore commended the ministry for the support given to the team during the assignment.

“By your support and encouragement, you really supported us to perform our task during the covid 19 pandemic.

“Under your leadership, we ve been able to make available the essential items needed by Nigerians to survive the crisis” They said.

During the period of the inter state travel ban, the committee received and resolved 121 cases of complains.

Out of this 121 cases, about 76 per cent of the challenges related to movement of manufacturing and pharmaceutical products.