Manufacturers have called for stronger and more consistent policy support to sustain Nigeria’s fragile industrial recovery, following a modest rise in the Manufacturers’ Confidence Index (MCCI) for the third quarter of 2025.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) disclosed that the index inched up to 50.7 points in Q3 2025 from 50.3 points in the previous quarter, reflecting cautious optimism among industry leaders.
Presenting the report in Lagos on Tuesday, MAN Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir said the 0.4-point increase, though small, marks the second consecutive quarterly improvement, suggesting that the manufacturing sector is slowly stabilising after a prolonged downturn.
“While the increase may appear marginal, it is significant because it points to cautious optimism that the sector is beginning to find its footing after a long period of turbulence,” Ajayi-Kadir said. He, however, cautioned that the recovery remains fragile and could be derailed without deliberate, industry-friendly policy interventions.
Dr. Oluwasegun Osidioe, MAN’s Director of Research and Economic Policy, noted that the sector demonstrated modest resilience during the period, with capacity utilisation rising to 61.3 percent in the first half of 2025 from 57.6 percent recorded in the second half of 2024.
He added that real output growth slowed slightly to 1.6 percent in the second quarter of 2025, with the manufacturing sector contributing 7.81 percent to Nigeria’s GDP, down from 9.62 percent in the previous period.
Osidioe explained that the consecutive rise in the MCCI reaffirms a gradual recovery in the economy but stressed the need for consistent government policies and exchange rate stability to sustain the momentum.
“The modest yet consecutive rise in the MCCI reaffirms that Nigeria’s economy is on a path of gradual recovery,” he said. “However, sustaining this trajectory will require consistent policy support, improved access to credit, and stable macroeconomic conditions.”
Industry experts at the event also called on the government to address key challenges such as high production costs, poor infrastructure, and policy inconsistencies that continue to hinder competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.
