The Federal Government has said that Nigeria must transition from importing used industrial scrap to deploying world-class, resilient manufacturing solutions as part of efforts to reposition the sector for global competitiveness.
The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, stated this on Wednesday during the 2025 edition of the Nigeria Manufacturing and Equipment/Nigerian Raw Materials Expo held in Lagos.
Enoh declared that Nigeria could not continue to rely on outdated and imported equipment if it hopes to achieve true industrial sovereignty.
He said, “We must move from importing used, you know, industrial scrap, because most of them, that’s what they are, to deploying world-class solutions built for resilience, for sustainability.”
The minister noted that manufacturing currently contributes less than 10 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and that the government is working to reverse the trend by prioritising domestic production and adding value to local raw materials.
“We must produce, we must produce, and we must produce,” he stressed. “Unless we can manufacture this equipment, we will never get to the rural areas. The countries we are importing them from are not tired of supplying.
This is another form of neo-colonialism.”
He added that the government was finalising a Draft National Industrial Policy, which would place technology adoption, equipment financing, and power integration at the core of manufacturing innovation.
“We have a draft national industrial policy currently undergoing validation. This policy emphasises technology adoption, equipment financing, and power integration as the backbone of innovation in the manufacturing sector,” he said.
The industry minister noted that the policy is also aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the goal of diversifying Nigeria’s economy across key sub-sectors, including textiles, automotive, and agro-processing.
Enoh commended the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, and other stakeholders for working collaboratively to develop a “fit-for-purpose” policy framework.
He explained that through the planned Made-in-Nigeria campaign, likely to be anchored by the Pro-Nigeria Secretariat, the Federal Government would support certification, digital marketplaces, and media visibility for locally produced equipment and innovations.
The Minister also revealed that the government is harmonising efforts across ministries and agencies such as the Bank of Industry, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, the Nigeria Industrial Policy Council, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure.
He said, “We are working to increase the acquisition of manufacturing technologies for small-scale producers. Through policy-driven partnerships with development finance institutions and innovation hubs, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises will have access to smart, affordable machinery, not antiquated tools of the past.”
He urged Nigerian manufacturers and innovators to see the Expo not just as a marketplace but as a mandate to forge strategic technology transfer partnerships and explore modular, mobile, and decentralised equipment models for underserved regions.
He also urged the stakeholders to collaborate with tertiary institutions to co-design Nigeria-specific machines and define sustainability as industrial sovereignty and inclusive economic development.
“Let it be said that this Expo enabled partnerships that retooled the soul of Nigerian manufacturing. Let it be that we dared not just to buy better machines but to build a better nation,” the Minister stated.
President of the MAN, Francis Meshioye, in his remarks, described the expo as an opportunity to transform intentions into innovation and enhance Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness.
He said, “We embarked on a remarkable journey, not just about showcasing capabilities, but about exploring partnerships, innovation, and sustainable practices that can propel our industry to prosperity.”
Meshioye commended participants for their enthusiasm and urged stakeholders to reflect on how insights from the event could reshape business strategies.
“The theme of this year’s expo, ‘Accelerating Sustainable Manufacturing Through Cutting-Edge Equipment and Technology Solutions’, strongly resonates with our industry’s needs,” he said.
He added, “We must make manufacturing desirable, attractive, and a household name.”
Highlights of the day included panel discussions on sustainable innovation and technology transfer in manufacturing, the growth mindset of women in manufacturing and leveraging international partnerships.
The panellists included the Consul General of India in Lagos, Chandramouli Kern; Chief Executive Officer of PROPAK, George Pearson; Senior Trade Consultant (West Africa), VDMA, Kayode Jegede; and CEO of Open Access Data Centres, Dr Ayotunde Coker, among others.
The three-day expo brought together key government agencies, private sector players, equipment manufacturers, innovation hubs, and academia to deliberate on strategies to deepen local production capacity, reduce reliance on foreign inputs, and build an inclusive, sustainable industrial future.
