The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to ensure that materials for the perimeter fencing project at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, are sourced from competent local manufacturers.
According to MAN's Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the appeal is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's "Nigeria First" policy and Executive Orders 003 and 005, which mandate the prioritization of locally manufactured goods in public procurement.
Ajayi-Kadir emphasized that while the competence of foreign manufacturers is not in doubt, Nigerian companies possess the technical expertise and capacity to deliver fencing materials that meet global standards. "Importing these materials would undermine government policy, deny the country jobs, reduce tax revenues, and put additional pressure on scarce foreign exchange," he said.
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The MAN chief noted that similar projects in the past had sidelined Nigerian producers, with fencing materials imported from South Africa despite MAN's advocacy. He urged the government to seize the Lagos Airport project as an opportunity to correct such mistakes.
"This is not about influencing contract awards but about aligning procurement with national interest. Supporting local manufacturers strengthens our economy, creates jobs, and reinforces Nigeria's industrial base," Ajayi-Kadir stressed.
MAN reiterated its commitment to working with government to ensure the effective implementation of the Nigeria First Policy and advance inclusive economic growth.
