The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has sounded the alarm on the declining patronage of Nigeria’s printing industry, despite the country’s local capacity to meet demand.
Leye Kupoluyi, president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), who made this known at a press briefing on the state of the economy held recently in Lagos, said the industry has the capacity to meet local demand, but is operating below capacity due to declining patronage and stiff competition from imports.
“We are concerned about the steady decline in the patronage of locally produced printed materials,” said Kupoluyi.
According to him, the industry is facing stiff competition from imported printed materials, which has led to a significant loss of market share for local printing companies.
“The current policy environment has encouraged the outsourcing of printing jobs, weakening the competitiveness of indigenous operators,” he noted.
The LCCI president called on the federal government to prioritize local printing firms in public procurement and implement policies to support the industry. “We urge the government to give local printing companies a chance to compete and grow,” he said.
Kupoluyi also highlighted the challenges faced by local printing companies, including high production costs and stiff competition from imports. “Local printing companies are struggling to stay afloat, and it’s affecting their bottom line,” he said.
The printing industry has the potential to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth, but it needs government support and patronage to thrive.
“We need the government’s help to create a level playing field for local printing companies,” Kupoluyi emphasized.
The LCCI president also called for a review of the current duty structure on printing materials to create a level playing field for local industry growth. “Imported books enjoy zero import duty, while printing inputs imported by domestic operators are subject to duties,” he said.
Kupoluyi urged Nigerians to support local industries and promote economic growth. “By patronizing local printing companies, we can create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and reduce our reliance on imports,” he said.
He reiterated the LCCI’s commitment to promoting a thriving and sustainable business environment in Nigeria. “We will continue to work with the government and other stakeholders to create an enabling environment for businesses to grow and thrive,” he said.
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Kupoluyi said boosting domestic production must go beyond policy statements and translate into targeted incentives that make it cheaper and faster for businesses to manufacture in Nigeria.
He noted that manufacturers continue to battle high energy costs, multiple taxes, and expensive logistics, which erode margins and make locally made goods uncompetitive against imports.
“Until we address the cost of doing business, calls for import substitution will remain an aspiration,” the LCCI President stated. “Government must deliberately reduce input costs, guarantee power, and ensure that factories can move goods from point A to point B without avoidable delays and leakages.”
On infrastructure, Kupoluyi identified roads, rail networks, storage facilities, and port efficiency as immediate priorities. He said the current state of key trade corridors is raising distribution costs across agriculture and manufacturing value chains, forcing businesses to spend more on diesel, vehicle maintenance, and security.
