**LAGOS** — More than 50 companies within Nigeria’s chemical and non-metallic products sector are grappling with severe economic challenges. These challenges are leading to the shutdown of multinational corporations, medium, and small-scale enterprises (SMEs), or forcing them to operate at significantly reduced capacities.

The affected firms produce a wide range of products, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, toiletries, detergents, vegetable oils, cement, and rubber, among others.

One notable company facing closure is Kimberly-Clark, which is struggling with high energy costs, expensive raw materials, and declining customer demand. In an effort to stay afloat, the company has reduced shifts and implemented other cost-cutting measures.

Kimberly-Clark’s $100 million factory in Ikorodu, Lagos State, was inaugurated just two years ago by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to produce diapers, sanitary pads, and similar products.

**Industry Leaders Speak Out**

The Executive Secretary of the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employers Federation (CANMPEF), Mr. Olorunfemi Oke, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating that these closures are a painful consequence of government policies. He pointed to several challenges facing the sector, including the floating of the naira, a depreciating currency, volatile exchange rates, the removal of fuel subsidies, high import duty rates, soaring interest rates, unreliable power supply with recent tariff hikes, inadequate gas supply, and the skyrocketing cost of diesel. These factors, he argued, have made it increasingly difficult for businesses in the sector to survive.