BAT Nigeria Advocates for Stronger Industrial Policy Implementation

BAT Nigeria has urged for stronger implementation of industrial policies to revive Nigeria's manufacturing sector, identifying poor execution as a significant obstacle to growth. Speaking at the BusinessDay Manufacturing Conference 2026 in Lagos, Ruth Owojaiy, Director of Corporate Regulatory Affairs at BAT Nigeria, explained that the challenges in the manufacturing sector stem from weak execution of existing policies rather than a lack of them.

She highlighted the need for tangible outcomes from policy commitments to drive investment and economic growth. Owojaiy noted that Nigeria requires an estimated 100,000 megawatts of electricity to support its manufacturing ambitions, while currently generating only 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts.

She stressed the importance of addressing energy challenges and regulatory bottlenecks, which create uncertainty for businesses. Owojaiy also called for improved coordination among government agencies to avoid duplicative requirements that burden manufacturers and emphasized the need for a stable regulatory environment to attract long-term investment.