The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to ensure strict adherence to its Nigeria First Policy in the ongoing procurement process for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Operational Perimeter Fencing and Security Surveillance Project.
In a statement issued by its Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, sent to news.ng, MAN commended the Federal Government for its infrastructure renewal efforts but stressed that indigenous companies must not be sidelined in the procurement of fencing materials.
“The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) wishes to commend the Federal Government for its initiatives to sustain our national infrastructure and draw its attention and that of the Nigerian public to a matter of urgent national importance,” Ajayi-Kadir stated.
He pointed to Executive Orders 003 and 005, as well as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recently reaffirmed Nigeria First Policy, as binding directives that prioritise local content in public procurement.
“It has become a matter of national interest for the contractor handling the project to ensure strict adherence to the Executive Orders 003, 005 and the imperatives of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy,” he said.
“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.”
Ajayi-Kadir noted that Nigerian companies have both the technical expertise and production capacity to manufacture fencing materials that meet global standards. “While we acknowledge the competence of the foreign manufacturer, MAN emphasises that Nigerian companies have the proven capacity and technical expertise to produce fencing materials of equal — if not superior — quality that meets international standards,” he added.
According to MAN, importing the materials would undermine national economic goals by denying Nigeria opportunities for job creation, foreign exchange savings, increased tax revenues, and industrial growth.
“Importing fencing materials for this project would not only undermine this policy, but also deprive Nigeria of critical benefits, such as job creation for Nigerian youth and skilled workers, foreign exchange savings, increased tax revenues, and strengthened industrial base through self-reliance,” Ajayi-Kadir emphasised.
He recalled that local manufacturers had been sidelined in previous projects, including a past airport fencing contract where materials were imported from South Africa despite MAN’s advocacy. That decision, he said, “discouraged local industries and contradicted the government’s stated local content policies.”
Calling on the government to seize this opportunity to demonstrate real commitment to local content, Ajayi-Kadir stressed that the association’s appeal was not about influencing contract awards but about aligning procurement with national interest.
“We strongly believe that this administration has the opportunity to correct past errors. 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,” he said.
“MAN, 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 well-being of the people,” he added.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy, pledging to continue promoting inclusive growth, industrialisation, and policies that directly benefit Nigerians.
