Manufacturers in Nigeria have lamented the high cost of automotive gas oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel, which is used in generating power for their operations, noting that the AGO gulps about 80 percent of their profits.
Speaking on the plight of manufacturers against the backdrop of rising prices of their products, the Director General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said manufacturers should not be blamed for inflating prices of products, considering the high cost of production.
Nevertheless, a bit of relief may have come the way of the manufacturers following the recent crash of the price of diesel by 29.4 percent by Dangote Refinery.
The refinery now supplies the product at a substantially reduced price of N1,200 per litre, representing a 29.4 percent reduction from the previous market price of about N1,700 per litre.
On the high cost of energy, Ajayi-Kadir stated: “We have at different fora informed government and relevant agencies of what to do to bring down these inimical worsening high operating costs in the country.
“Nigerians should not blame local manufacturers for increasing the cost of goods, because they are being confronted with debilitating conditions.
“Do you know that diesel is taking 80 per cent profit of surviving manufacturing firms in Nigeria currently at the rate of about N1,700?
“Which manufacturer can cope with that astronomical price for energy to produce and you won’t expect him to increase his products in the country?
“Also, look at the new Customs exchange rate, new interest rate, scarcity of foreign exchange (FX), NAFDAC ban and others. How do you want to cope in production and make profit?”
Recall that the President of  Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, recently confirmed that his refinery is offering diesel at N1,200, below the market rate of N1,700, adding that the significant cut in the price will have a positive effect on inflation in Nigeria.
He stated: “Quite a lot of prices have gone up. When you go to the market, for example, something that we produce locally like flour, people will charge you more. Why? Because they’re paying very high diesel prices.
“Now, in our refinery, we have started selling diesel at about N1,200 instead of N1,700 and I’m sure as we go along, things will continue to improve quite a lot.