The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) says the Federal Government should ensure that the fencing materials for the Lagos Airport should not be procure from outside Nigeria.
The association made the appeal to the government on Monday, through its Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir.
Ajayi-Kadir noted that the Lagos Airport fencing project presents a clear chance for the government 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, he said , therefore calls 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,” he said.
While we acknowledge the competence of the foreign manufacturer, MAN emphasizes that Nigerian companies have the proven capacity and technical expertise to produce fencing materials of equal — if not superior — quality that meet international standards.”
The manufacturers emphasized that it has become a matter of national interest for the project’s contractor to ensure strict adherence to the Executive Orders 003, 005 and the imperatives of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy. ”
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.
“While we acknowledge the competence of the foreign manufacturer, MAN emphasizes that Nigerian companies have the proven capacity and technical expertise to produce fencing materials of equal — if not superior — quality that meet international standards.”
The Director- General maintained that the appeal 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. “