British American Tobacco Nigeria has called for stronger and more effective implementation of existing industrial policies, insisting that Nigeria’s manufacturing challenges are driven less by the absence of policy frameworks and more by weak execution that continues to constrain investment, productivity, and overall economic growth.

The PUNCH reported that in a statement made available on Monday, the company made its position known during a high-level panel session titled “Fixing the Structural Barriers Holding Nigerian Manufacturing Back” at the BusinessDay Manufacturing Conference 2026, themed “Manufacturing Nigeria’s Future: Jobs, Competitiveness & Industrial Prosperity,” where the Director of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs at BATN, Ruth Owojaiye, said Nigeria already has several well-developed industrial policies, including the recently introduced Nigeria Industrial Policy, but their effectiveness depends on proper implementation.

She stressed that the core challenge is not policy formulation but execution.

“The challenge facing Nigeria today is not policy formulation; it is policy execution. We have numerous frameworks designed to support manufacturing, investment and industrial growth. The real question is how quickly and effectively we can translate these policies into tangible outcomes,” she said.

Owojaiye identified inadequate electricity supply as one of the most significant constraints facing manufacturers, noting that Nigeria’s persistent energy deficit continues to undermine productivity and competitiveness. She explained that while the country requires an estimated 100,000 megawatts of electricity to effectively power its economy, it currently generates only about 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts.

According to her, this shortfall forces many manufacturers to rely heavily on self-generated power, significantly increasing production costs and limiting expansion opportunities, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises that lack the resources to invest in alternative energy solutions.

She cited BAT Nigeria’s own investments in energy alternatives, including its transition to 100 per cent Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) operations and the deployment of a 1.4-megawatt solar power system, as examples of efforts to improve operational resilience. However, she noted that such investments remain out of reach for many local manufacturers.

Owojaiye also expressed concern over Nigeria’s regulatory environment, describing overlapping regulations, fragmented oversight, and policy inconsistencies as factors increasing compliance costs and creating uncertainty for businesses.

She called for stronger coordination among government agencies to eliminate duplication and ensure that regulatory frameworks achieve their intended objectives without placing unnecessary burdens on manufacturers.

Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of regulatory stability, foreign exchange predictability, and consistent policy enforcement in attracting long-term investments, noting that investors base decisions on expectations of stability and certainty.

She also advocated for quicker settlement of Export Expansion Grant obligations, proposing phased payments and redeemable promissory notes to improve liquidity for exporters and support the growth of local manufacturers.

“Export-led industrialisation remains one of the most effective pathways for sustainable economic growth,” she said, adding that enabling manufacturers to compete in regional and global markets would enhance job creation and foreign exchange earnings.

Owojaiye concluded that Nigeria has the talent, market size, and entrepreneurial capacity to become a leading manufacturing hub in Africa, but achieving this potential will require stronger collaboration between government and industry to bridge the gap between policy design and implementation.

The BusinessDay Manufacturing Conference 2026 brought together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to explore practical solutions to structural challenges affecting Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.