LCCI Tasks F.G To Patronise Local Printing Companies

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on the federal government to patronise local publishing and printing companies as the first choice when doing business,saying it would boost the sub sector of the economy.

LCCI further expressed worries over the low patronage of locally produced goods in the country, even as it called for urgent measures to ameliorate the situation.

The President, LCCI,Babatunde Ruwase,  while inaugurating the Printing, Publishing and Allied (PPA) group in Lagos, said

According to the chamber, locally produced goods face myriads of challenges such as high cost of bringing in raw materials, harsh operating business environment, and low patronage from government agencies despite being the highest spenders in the economy.

“The government must have local publishing and printing companies as the first choice when doing business. If we can get government to patronise publishing and printing companies, it will be better for the sector and the economy at large.”

The President said with the inauguration, the chamber would be able to focus more on issues hindering growth of the sector such as low patronage from government, and addressing issues of raw materials while also looking at backward integration.

He stated, “We have some facilities in Nigeria, which have all gone moribund. We will also seek ways on how the Federal Government will patronise local publishing and printing companies. 

“It is also like a focus group that will focus on challenges affecting the sector.

Citing the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Ruwase said the size of the printing and publishing sector was valued at N20 billion in 2018, pointing out that it is one of the fast-growing sectors in Nigeria, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of about six per cent and 0.03 per cent in 2018.

“In response to the importance and performance of this sector, the chamber decided to create this group and we are very happy to identify with all the members of this vibrant group today,” he said.

In her speech at the event, Layo Okeowo, the chairperson of PPA, said the group would give operators a viable platform to engage government on key policies affecting the sector, and exchange ideas on its growth and development.