The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has raised alarm over what it described as a looming threat to Nigeria’s industrial growth, warning that local producers risk being sidelined in the Lagos airport perimeter fencing and security surveillance project.
Despite President Bola Tinubu’s repeated assurances on local content and his much-publicized “Nigeria First Policy,” there are strong indications that contractors may once again opt for imported Clear Vu fencing materials—undermining both the Executive Orders on patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods and the administration’s stated industrial policy.
MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, minced no words in his criticism. “It has become a matter of national interest for the contractor handling the project to ensure strict adherence to Executive Orders 003 and 005, and the imperatives of the Nigeria First Policy. Indigenous manufacturers must be given priority consideration,” he declared.
The warning comes against a backdrop of what the group described as repeated betrayals of local industry. MAN recalled that in previous government projects, fencing materials were imported from South Africa despite clear evidence of local capacity. According to the association, such decisions not only drained scarce foreign exchange but also dealt a blow to Nigerian manufacturers who were sidelined after years of investment and advocacy.
Industry insiders say Nigerian companies already possess the technical expertise and capacity to produce fencing materials that meet global standards. The insistence on foreign procurement, they argue, reflects a persistent culture of neglecting domestic industries in favour of foreign firms—a practice that contradicts government’s own policy documents.
“The Lagos airport fencing project is more than just an infrastructure contract,” Ajayi-Kadir said. “It is a test case for whether this government is truly committed to walking the talk on local content, or whether we are once again going to see lofty policies sabotaged by implementation failures.”
Critics warn that if Nigerian firms are excluded, the country will lose vital opportunities for job creation, foreign exchange savings, and tax revenues, while the manufacturing sector—already struggling under inflation, high energy costs, and import pressures—will be further weakened.
For MAN, the stakes are clear: this is not just about a fence, but about the credibility of government’s economic vision. “The Lagos Airport fencing project presents a chance to prove that the Nigeria First Policy is not mere rhetoric,” the association stressed. “Failure to prioritize local content will send a dangerous signal that Nigeria’s industrial base remains expendable.”
As the procurement process unfolds, eyes are now on the Federal Government and its contractors. The question many in the industry are asking is simple: will Nigeria finally protect its own manufacturers, or once again mortgage local capacity to foreign suppliers?
