Petrol price hike has worsened our operations – MAN

Mr. Lanre Popoola, Chairman, Southwest Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said the difficulties in the operations of manufacturers had been worsened by the recent fuel pump price increase.

The MAN Southwest chairman said this in an interview with the newsmen in Ibadan on Friday.

Popoola decried how difficult it has been to operate manufacturing firms on full scale under the current economic hardship.

He said that MAN was already facing difficulties before the increase in the price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol.

Popoola said it was unfortunate that amidst the increase and instability in the economy, the Federal Government expected the private sectors to implement N70,000 new national minimum wage.

“Can we increase salary now? No. We are in a dilemma,” he said.

According to him, the sector has been plagued with economic challenges, such as inflation and the devaluation of the naira amidst forex scarcity.

“The present hard situation in the country has been worsened by the fuel increment with no respite in sight.

“It has been difficult to operate manufacturing industries on full scale.

“Even before the fuel increment, and now that the worst has happened, it has been difficult to operate under the economic hardship, he said.

Supreme News recalls that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited reviewed the price of PMS from N580 per litre to N855 and N1200 depending on the location across the country.