News
MAN laments 66% rise in manufactured goods exports, insists it’s poor

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has said the 65.84 per cent increase in the value of manufactured goods exported in 2024 from 2023, stating it is below expectations.
The PUNCH found that the gross value of manufactured goods exported in 2024 was N2.28tn, an increase from N778.44bn in 2023.
While manufactured goods exports in 2023 were worse than the previous year, export value slumped in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The National Bureau of Statistics’ Foreign Trade in Goods data showed the sector’s export value sustained growth in the first quarter of 2024 with N268.70bn, N480.82bn, and N1.04tn in the second and third quarters, respectively.
However, the export value of manufactured goods dropped by 52.48 per cent in Q4 2024 as the NBS reported a lesser value of 494.22bn.
Secretary of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group, Dr Benedict Obhiosa told The PUNCH in a phone interview that the decline in the manufacturing sector’s Q4 2024 export performance stemmed from a hostile operating environment.
“The operating environment has been very hostile for the manufacturing sector over the past two years, especially in terms of infrastructure,” Obhiosa stated. “The high cost of energy, high cost of borrowing, erratic fluctuations in the exchange rate, among others has culminated in the low performance of the manufacturing sector.”
MAN has called attention to the manufacturing sector’s debilitating state. Earlier in its Q4 2024 Manufacturers Chief Executive Officers Confidence Index, MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir noted, “Findings show that production and distribution costs surged further by 18.2 per cent in the quarter under review, from the 20.1 per cent increase witnessed in the preceding quarter.”
Meanwhile, MANEG’s Secretary, Obhiosa disagreed that the improvement in export value from 2023 was not enough to celebrate.
Obhiosa argued that while the NBS data revealed a slight increase, it does not transcend to growth in the sector. He explained that the manufacturing companies were still performing “far below their installed capacity.”
He declared that a more concrete path out of the challenge was an increased government commitment to issuing manufacturers export grants.
“To maximise the potential of the manufacturing export sector, the Federal Government needs to be more deliberate and action-minded about fully implementing the Export Expand Grant aimed at boosting the non-oil export sector in Nigeria,” Obhiosa stressed. “Historically, EEG has been found to have spurred non-oil export growth in Nigeria.”
Obhiosa alleged that the Federal Government was complicit as it had not paid the EEG leading to years of payment backlog.
He explained: “If the Federal Government can be consistent with the payment of EEG, you can rest assured of higher foreign exchange earnings and inflow to Nigeria as export proceeds payments. As a result, many informal sector operators will even be attracted to the formal export channel.”
According to the NBS, the value of manufactured goods traded in Q4 2024 stood at N8.96tn, representing 24.50 per cent of total trade.
The main export commodities were unwrought aluminium alloys exported to Japan and China, dredgers exported to Ivory Coast, and cathodes exported to Japan and China.
The NBS added that manufactured goods were mainly exported to Africa at N215.85bn, followed by exports to Asia valued at N165.97bn and Europe at N62.13bn.
News
15 huts razed, one injured in renewed Jukun-Tiv violence

A fresh outbreak of ethnic violence between the Jukun and Tiv communities has erupted in Taraba State, with suspected Jukun militias launching an early-morning attack on Dekeh Village along the Wukari–Kente Road.
According to security sources available to Zagazola Makama, the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
About six armed assailants stormed the village, opening fire indiscriminately and setting 15 huts ablaze. The attack forced residents to flee in panic, leaving behind food items, including yam seedlings, which were destroyed in the blaze.
One resident identified as Mdue Saaondo, sustained gunshot injuries during the assault. He was rescued by a joint team of police and military personnel and transported to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Wukari for medical treatment.
The Taraba State Police Command has launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible. Authorities have also scheduled a security meeting with the Wukari Local Government Traditional Council as part of efforts to restore peace and encourage dialogue between the Tiv and Jukun communities, who have long-standing disputes over land and territorial claims.
“Patrol and surveillance operations are ongoing to forestall further violence and ensure stability in the area,” police authorities stated.
The incident adds to the growing list of violent clashes that have plagued southern Taraba in recent years, underscoring the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to the communal tensions.
News
2025 U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles zoom into quarter-final after draw with Kenya

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles booked a place in the quarter-final at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after playing out a 2-2 draw against Kenya.
Aliyu Zubairu’s side finished second in Group B with five points from three games.
The Atlas Cub of Morocco top the group with seven points after beating Tunisia 3-1 at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.
Kenya started the game strongly, and deservedly took the lead after six minutes.
Nigeria defender Emmanuel Chukwu handled the ball inside the box, and after initially awarding a free kick to Kenya, the centre referee pointed to the spot following consultation with VAR.
Captain Kevin Wangaya Colly slotted the ball past Ebenezer Harcourt to give the Rising Stars the lead.
The Flying Eagles fought back seven minutes later with Lillestrøm striker Kparobo Arierhi netting after he was put on through on goal by Simon Cletus.
Nigeria dominated the game in the second half but failed to test the Kenyan goalkeeper.
Kenya took the lead for the second time in the game through substitute William Nwangi on 68 minutes.
Nwangi lashed home Humphrey Kegengo’s free kick from inside the box.
Daniel Bameyi, however, converted from the spot to hand the Flying Eagles a share of the spoils.
News
Trump announces judicial nominees, accuses US court of obstruction

United States President Donald Trump has announced a fresh slate of judicial nominees in a series of posts on Truth Social on Tuesday.
The president, who has repeatedly expressed frustration over what he sees as judicial obstruction, followed up on Wednesday with a post criticising the judiciary for allegedly preventing him from carrying out the mandate of the American people.
The Republican leader, whose second-term agenda has encountered multiple judicial roadblocks, wrote: “Our Court System is not letting me do the job I was Elected to do.
“Activist judges must let the [Donald] Trump Administration deport murderers, and other criminals who have come into our Country illegally, WITHOUT DELAY!!!”
Trump named Maria Lanahan, Missouri’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General, as a nominee for a judgeship on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He praised her as “a true patriot” in a post on Tuesday.
The 78-year-old also nominated Judge Cristian Stevens to serve on the same court, describing him in another post as “a Great Patriot.”
The announcements came a day after a federal appeals court declined the Trump administration’s request to revoke temporary legal status from hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Cubans living in the United States.
-
News23 hours ago
Real cause of Herbert Wigwe’s helicopter crash revealed
-
News15 hours ago
Just in: Finally, EFCC bows to pressure, releases VDM
-
News19 hours ago
Just in: Lagos LG chairman slumps during APC meeting
-
News21 hours ago
Just in: Security and Exchange Commission declares PWAN as PONZI scheme, cautions Nigerians
-
Economy24 hours ago
SEE Black Market Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate Today – 7th May 2025
-
News23 hours ago
FG starts massive overhaul of NYSC scheme, plans teachers’, medical corps
-
Entertainment5 hours ago
I’m broke yet accused of money laundering – VDM breaks silence after EFCC release
-
News20 hours ago
Multiple video evidence against Nnamdi Kanu