Group laments foreign infiltration in Nigerian jobs

The Association of Chemicals Importers, Exporters and Dealers of Nigeria (ACIEDN) has urged the Federal Government to formulate policies restricting foreigners from taking over Nigerian jobs.

The group lamented that most of the foreigners get subsidy from their home countries, and are snuffing the businesses of Nigerians, stressing that the foreigners should rather be in manufacturing if need be.

The association spoke recently at a get together meeting with its members and representatives of some of the regulatory bodies in the country.

The Chairman of the association, Rafiu Ebiti, noted that Nigerians who are into chemical business are in a great risk, if the government does not take decisive measures.

“The value chain of the business is being threatened by foreigners coming in and getting into the business. Unless we put ourselves together we run a big risk, and that is why we having the first step today to bring the regulatory agencies like NAFDAC and SON and by so doing, we will be able to address common issues and have a strengthened organization that can interface with the government which is key.

“Sometimes, government does not know exactly what goes on in some of the trades sector of the economy and unless we do these things we run a big risk. We are not against competition if the pricing is fair but these sectors are not available for Nigerians in their own country.

“There are some sectors that are close to non indigenes in other countries, if it is not available in those countries, then they should go to the higher level, which is manufacturing, which they are not trying to do. If they want to come into Nigeria, they should manufacture.

“The sector for importation and distribution is an exclusive thing for Nigerians because they have the capability and they have been doing it for a long time. In most countries, export is subsidized. Our people are loosing their jobs. What we want is clear, enforcement of regulation and the key areas of the business – the importation, deregulation, distribution has to be exclusively in the hands of Nigerians that is the only way we will not have people out of jobs,” he said.

On his part, Chief Executive Officer of Kamsy Chemicals and Allied Products, Ofurum Francis lamented that the regulatory bodies monitoring the chemical industries is cumbersome, calling for its harmonisation.

He added that foreigners should not be allowed to engage in businesses that could be handled by the indigenes otherwise many would be out of jobs.

“This should be regulated in such a way that if foreigners must come, they should focus on where we don’t have so much capacity. The government should create policies restricting foreigners from penetrating into some business.”