The Managing Director of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, George Onafowokan, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise investment in cable infrastructure, describing it as a critical driver of national development.

According to a statement, Onafowokan made the call while speaking at the 2025 Nigerian International Energy Summit in Abuja, where he stressed that infrastructure spending must extend beyond traditional sectors like petroleum and cement.

He spoke on a panel discussing ‘Accelerating Local Content Development: Practical Solutions for Africa’s Energy Future.’.

“Infrastructure spending is crucial, especially in industries like mine, which impact everyday life. Telecom infrastructure is essential even in classrooms, yet Nigeria does not prioritise cable infrastructure the same way it does petroleum or cement,” he said.

Coleman’s MD noted that 15 per cent of global infrastructure spending is linked to cable, underscoring the need for Nigeria to rethink its approach to the sector.

He also urged strategic allocation of the Nigerian Content Intervention funds to address infrastructure gaps, pointing out that key projects such as Floating Production Storage and Offloading units, power plants, housing, and data centres all rely on strong cable networks to function effectively.

While commending the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board for its initiatives, Onafowokan challenged other institutions to complement these efforts.

“The Nigerian Content Law and Board has made significant progress, but what are other institutions doing to enhance this? We must ensure that both direct and indirect investments are channelled into key infrastructural developments,” he stated.

His comments come as stakeholders in the energy and infrastructure sectors continue to push for more local investments to strengthen Nigeria’s economic and industrial capacity.

Onafowokan spoke on the topic ‘Accelerating Local Content Development: Practical Solutions for Africa’s Energy Future, which included other speakers.

Other panellists who examined local content development included Chairman of SNRL, Kola Karim; Managing Director, Dorman Long Nigeria, Chris Ijeli; and Founder, Arcus 360, Joy Shaiyen.

MD, GPPSL, Obi Uzu; MD, Starzs Investments Co. Ltd, Iroghama Ogbeifu; Procurement and Nigerian Content Development General Manager, Esso Exploration and Production Niger, Emem Abraham; and the General Manager of the Nigerian Content Development, Shell, Olanrewaju Olawuyi.