News Investigators/ The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise indigenous manufacturers in the Lagos airport fencing project.
Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadri, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Executive Council approved rehabilitation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport terminal one for N712.26 billion.
Mr Ajayi-Kadri commended the Federal Government for its efforts to sustain national infrastructure.
He stressed the importance of prioritising indigenous manufacturers, noting they had regrettably lost out in similar situations in the past.
He recalled that, in spite of MAN’s advocacy, fencing materials for a previous airport project were imported from South Africa.
“That decision discouraged local industries and contradicted government’s stated local content policies,” Ajayi-Kadri said.
He added that the Lagos fencing project provided an opportunity to correct past errors and demonstrate commitment to the Nigeria First policy.
Mr Ajayi-Kadri said importing fencing materials would undermine government’s policy and deprive Nigeria of critical benefits.
He listed the benefits of local sourcing as job creation, foreign exchange savings, higher tax revenues, and strengthened industrial capacity.
He also emphasised the role of Executive Orders 003 and 005, which mandate prioritisation of locally manufactured goods and services in public procurement.
Mr Ajayi-Kadri urged the contractor to strictly adhere to the orders and President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy.
“In considering the procurement of Clear Vu fencing, indigenous manufacturers should be given priority, and it should not be imported,” he said.
He acknowledged the competence of foreign manufacturers but insisted Nigerian companies possess proven capacity and technical expertise to produce fencing materials meeting international standards.
NAN
