The Federal Government has inaugurated Coleman Industries Ltd’s new fibre optic cable manufacturing factory in Sagamu, Ogun State, with an annual production capacity of over nine million kilometres of fibre and a reinforced plastic production line.

Coleman built the new N15tn-capacity facility in partnership with the United States-based firm Corning Inc. It spans more than 350,000 square metres and can meet 50 per cent of Africa’s fibre demand.

Coleman’s Managing Director, George Onafowokan, on Wednesday revealed that the plant will drive broadband expansion, digital inclusion, and export growth under Nigeria’s $1tn economic plan. He added that it will also create over 20,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect roles, with at least 30 per cent female participation.

Representing President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the new plant represents a strategic national asset that will strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, create jobs, and boost competitiveness under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Every kilometre of fibre produced here strengthens the backbone of our digital economy, enabling broadband access, secure e-commerce, and modern public services,” Oduwole said. “In a world where data is the new essential infrastructure, local capacity in fibre optics reduces import dependence, conserves foreign exchange, and positions Nigeria as a regional supplier under the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

The Sagamu complex also features a copper and aluminium smelting plant that produces 3,000 tonnes of aluminium and 10,000 tonnes of copper monthly. Coleman stated that this added capacity has reinforced it as Africa’s leading integrated cable manufacturer.

The event, which also marked Coleman’s 50th anniversary, drew dignitaries, including Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, representatives of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, traditional rulers, and captains of industry.

Abiodun described Coleman’s milestone as a “story of faith, resilience, and innovation,” commending the company for contributing to Ogun State’s industrial transformation.

“The commissioning of this factory marks a defining moment in our state and in Nigeria’s digital revolution,” Abiodun said. “By producing fibre cables locally, we are not only bridging the digital divide but also creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs across manufacturing, logistics, and ICT.”

He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to industrial growth and described Ogun as “Nigeria’s manufacturing capital.”

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Tijani, highlighted the critical role of connectivity in national development. He revealed that the Federal Government’s plan to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre network nationwide would depend heavily on local manufacturers like Coleman.

“This is the only company in West Africa that manufactures fibre cables. There’s no alternative,” Tijani said. “We’re working with Coleman and its American partners to train 5,000 young Nigerians on fibre handling, splicing, and deployment, a key part of our national broadband plan.”

Representing Governor Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, described the new facility as “a resounding declaration that Africa’s digital revolution will be powered by solutions made on African soil.”

In his remarks, the MD of Coleman Technical Industries Limited, Onafowokan, said the new nine-million-fibre-capacity factory is twice the size of the nearest competitor in Africa and capable of meeting 50 per cent of the continent’s fibre demand.

“This factory is not just for Nigeria but for the African market—West, East, Central, and Southern Africa,” Onafowokan said. “Our goal is for Nigeria to solve Africa’s connectivity challenges and drive the continent’s digital transformation.”

Onafowokan traced the company’s growth from a modest 200-square-metre factory in Idimu to a combined 400,000-square-metre manufacturing hub across Arepo and Sagamu. He said Coleman had evolved from a trading outfit to one of Africa’s largest cable producers, supplying high-voltage cables, fibre optics, and aluminium conductors across sectors.

He disclosed that Coleman’s Sagamu plant also houses a new copper and aluminum smelting project with a capacity of 3,000 tonnes of aluminium and 10,000 tonnes of copper per month, as well as plans to secure Free Trade Zone status.

According to him, the facility is projected to create over 20,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect roles, with at least 30 per cent female participation, while generating over N1tn in export revenue.

Onafowokan urged the Federal Government to expedite approval of the 2025 fiscal policy measures and his company’s Free Trade Zone application to enable manufacturing growth.

“With the continued support of government, financial institutions, and stakeholders, Coleman is on track to become a N15tn revenue enterprise, with over half from exports,” he said. “This is just the beginning. Coleman represents hope, resilience, and the boundless potential of Nigerian enterprise.”