…as minister laments

Industrial growth in Africa’s most populous nation is being hindered by the country’s heavy reliance on imported equipment and machines, a trend that experts say is undermining efforts to boost local manufacturing.

The experts who spoke at the ongoing Nigeria Manufacturing and Equipment/ Nigerian Raw Materials Expo (NME/NIRAM) 2025 warned that unless the country shifts from importing machines and equipment, its aspiration for industrial sovereignty will remain out of reach.

John Owan Enoh, minister of State for Industry, in his address, described the nation’s over-reliance on foreign machines and equipment as a modern-day form of neocolonialism.

“Unless we’re able to manufacture our equipment and machines, we will never get anywhere yet. Because the countries we’re getting them from are not tired of supplying,” the minister lamented.

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Enoh noted that manufacturing globally is undergoing a profound revolution driven by automation, artificial intelligence, energy efficiency, and smart infrastructure, which is redrawing the map and the boundaries of possibilities.

He stressed that the country cannot afford to be left behind in the profound revolution, saying the country has the raw material base, the geography, a large population, and the right energy mix to drive its industrialisation.

Enoh said the country must move beyond treating technology as just cutting-edge manufacturing equipment and advancement capital, but as a critical need for manufacturing survival.

The minister noted that unless the country manufactured its own equipment, it would never attain industrial dignity.

He appreciated the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council for the expo, while calling on participants to forge strategic technology transfer partnerships with universities and polytechnics, and explore modular and decentralised equipment models suited to Nigeria’s unique industrial ecosystem.

Kofo Akinkugbe, managing-director, SecureID Limited, in her presentation on Enhancing Sustainable Innovation and Technology Transfer in Manufacturing, said the country must move from being a buyer of innovative solutions to a creator to drive growth and industrialisation.

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She noted that the country’s manufacturing is not where it ought to be given the vast natural resources and entrepreneurial spirit of its citizens.

She noted that the high importation of equipment and machines has flooded the country with “used industrial scrap.”

Akinkugbe urged the government to learn from the examples of technology transfers in India and China.

“Buying machines from China or Germany, that’s not technology transfer. Real transfer happens when we can fix the machines ourselves, understand how they work and eventually build them ourselves,” she said.

In his welcome address, Francis Meshioye, president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), noted that speakers at the ongoing expo have emphasised the importance of showing seriousness and readiness to revolutionise manufacturing with innovative approaches.

He said the expo has presented a unique platform for manufacturers to learn from one another, challenge the status quo, and pave the way for advancements that will shape the manufacturing landscape in Nigeria and beyond.

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“As we navigate through more presentations, discussions, and networking sessions today, let us keep in mind the overarching goal of this event: to enhance the competitiveness of our manufacturing sector.”

“We must harness the innovations and strategies presented here to equip ourselves to better respond to local demands while also positioning ourselves strategically in the global marketplace.”

Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director-general, MAN, praised the revitalised collaboration between the Ministry of Industry and stakeholders in the private sector, citing the Industrial Revolution Working Group as a transformative step that has improved feedback from manufacturers.