Onome Amuge
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the federal government to ensure that local companies supply materials for the perimeter fencing of Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport, warning that the use of imported products would undermine its own “Nigeria First” policy.
The industry group, in a statement, praised the government’s infrastructure drive but pressed authorities to prevent the procurement of ClearVu fencing (a brand developed in South Africa) from outside the country. It said awarding such contracts to foreign suppliers would contradict President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to prioritise indigenous firms in public procurement.
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director-general of MAN, called the issue a matter of national interest, urging the contractor handling the project to comply with Executive Orders 003 and 005, which mandate government ministries and agencies to prioritise local goods and services.
“In considering the procurement of ClearVu fencing, indigenous manufacturers should be given priority consideration, and it should not be purchased from outside Nigeria,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
The association insisted that Nigerian companies have both the capacity and technical expertise to meet international standards for security fencing. Excluding them, MAN argued, would deprive the economy of jobs, foreign exchange savings and tax revenues while weakening the country’s industrial base.
The push reflects long-running tensions over the role of local industry in government contracts. MAN recalled that domestic producers had been sidelined in previous airport fencing projects in favour of imported materials from South Africa, despite repeated lobbying. The group described that outcome as discouraging and inconsistent with Nigeria’s local content policy.
“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 said.
The call highlights the wider challenge facing the Tinubu administration as it seeks to balance its industrialisation agenda with the practical requirements of infrastructure delivery. While local manufacturers argue they can meet specifications, contractors often defend reliance on imports by pointing to quality assurance, timelines and cost considerations.
Ajayi-Kadir stressed that prioritising Nigerian suppliers would not only ensure compliance with government policy but also stimulate the domestic manufacturing base. “This is about more than fencing; it is about the credibility of government policy and the growth of Nigerian industry,” he said.
The association urged the federal government to intervene directly to guarantee that procurement decisions reflect national interest. It reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate with policymakers to support inclusive growth and ensure that large infrastructure projects provide opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
The debate comes as Nigeria steps up investments in airport security and surveillance systems, with Lagos airport a particular focus following repeated breaches and concerns over perimeter safety. For the manufacturing sector, the project represents both a business opportunity and a litmus test of the government’s commitment to its local content promises.
Whether local firms will win the contract remains uncertain. But MAN’s intervention has sharpened pressure on the government to demonstrate that its industrial policy can move beyond rhetoric and into practice.
