The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the federal government to locally source materials needed for the ongoing operational perimeter fencing and security surveillance project at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director general of MAN, in a statement, noted that while the competence of the foreign manufacturer is acknowledged, Nigerian companies have the proven capacity and technical expertise to produce fencing materials of equal, if not superior quality, that meet international standards.
Kadir stated that it has become a matter of national interest for the contractor handling the project to ensure strict adherence to Executive Orders 003 and 005, as well as the imperatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy, which mandates the prioritisation of locally manufactured goods and services in public procurement.
“In particular, we strongly maintain that, in considering the procurement of Clear Vu fencing, indigenous manufacturers should be given priority consideration, and it should not be purchased from outside Nigeria.
“The Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy, recently reaffirmed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has rekindled the confidence of Nigerian manufacturers,” he stated.
The Nigeria First policy was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), aimed at promoting indigenous production, empowering local businesses, and reducing overdependence on imports.
MAN DG also noted that importing fencing materials for this project would not only undermine this policy but also deprive Nigeria of critical benefits, such as job creation for Nigerian youth and skilled workers, foreign exchange savings, increased tax revenues and government earnings through local production, and a strengthened industrial base and security through self-reliance.
He added that this became necessary as Nigerian manufacturers, regrettably, lost out in similar situations in the past.
“In this particular instance, despite MAN’s advocacy, fencing materials for an airport project were imported from South Africa. That decision discouraged local industries and contradicted the government’s stated local content policies.
“We strongly believe that this administration has the opportunity to correct past errors,” Kadir said, while noting that the Lagos Airport fencing project presents a clear chance to demonstrate that the Nigeria First Policy is not just an aspiration, but an intentional policy of government that will be matched with unfettered implementation.
MAN further called on the federal government to urgently intervene by ensuring that the fencing materials for the Lagos Airport are sourced from competent Nigerian manufacturers.
“This is not a call to influence the award of the contract, but a patriotic appeal to align procurement decisions with national interest for the collective benefit of our economy and the well-being of the people,” MAN noted while reaffirming their commitment to supporting the government in its Nigeria First Policy, advancing inclusive growth and ensuring that government procurements impact the lives of Nigerians and promote Nigerian businesses.
