Tinubu: Local Production Key to Stabilising Supply Chains and Strengthening Nigeria’s Economy
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s economy through local production, saying it remains central to stabilising supply chains and reducing import dependence. The President made this known during the commissioning of Africa’s largest fibre optic manufacturing facility by Coleman Technical Industries Limited in Ogun State, marking a major milestone for Nigeria’s industrial and digital growth.
Represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Tinubu noted that the new facility would not only boost Nigeria’s manufacturing sector but also solidify the nation’s position in the digital economy. “With every kilometre of fibre produced, we are reinforcing the backbone of our digital economy,” he said, adding that the project will enhance broadband access, support smart factories, and modernise public services across the country.
Tinubu emphasised that the project aligns with his administration’s goal of promoting self-sufficiency and import substitution through domestic production. “This project helps stabilise supply chains and strengthen Nigeria’s macroeconomic landscape,” he noted, highlighting that the country’s manufacturing potential could serve the 1.4 billion-strong continental market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the event, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described the commissioning as a defining moment in Nigeria’s digital transformation, noting that the fibre optic plant will help bridge the digital divide and improve national connectivity. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, also commended Coleman for leading Africa’s homegrown digital revolution through innovation and industrial expansion.
Coleman Wires and Cables CEO George Onafowokan revealed that the new factory is Africa’s largest by capacity and the continent’s first Fibre-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) manufacturing facility. He announced plans for a $100 million Fibre Optic Cable Drawing Tower to deepen local content and boost exports. Built in partnership with U.S.-based Corning Inc., the facility is expected to drive Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy by fostering broadband expansion, digital inclusion, and export growth.
source: Leadership