FG: Nigeria Must Ditch Scrap Imports for Resilient Manufacturing

The Federal Government says Nigeria must stop industrial scrap imports and embrace the new resilient manufacturing policy.

Speaking at the 2025 Nigeria Manufacturing and Equipment/Raw Materials Expo in Lagos, Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, made the declaration.

According to him, Nigeria cannot rely on outdated, second-hand machines if it truly wants to achieve industrial sovereignty.

He explained that, currently, manufacturing contributes less than 10% to Nigeria’s GDP, a figure the government aims to drastically improve.

“We must move from importing used, you know, industrial scrap, because most of them, that’s what they are,” he said.

Enoh stressed the urgency of deploying world-class, resilient solutions tailored to Nigeria’s environment, growth, and future ambitions.

Moreover, he warned that continuing to import outdated equipment amounts to another form of economic colonization by supplier nations.

To change the narrative, he announced that a Draft National Industrial Policy is undergoing final review and sector-wide validation.

Notably, this policy focuses on technology adoption, equipment financing, and power integration as core pillars of transformation.

He also revealed plans for a Made-in-Nigeria campaign to promote certified local innovations and build national pride in manufacturing.

“Unless we can manufacture this equipment, we will never reach the rural areas,” Enoh added, underscoring the stakes involved.

Meanwhile, the government is aligning ministries and agencies like BOI, NEPZA, NASENI, and others to harmonise manufacturing efforts.

With these partnerships, small-scale producers will gain access to affordable, smart machinery instead of relying on obsolete tools.

Enoh called on stakeholders at the Expo to treat the event as more than a marketplace—it should spark strategic partnerships.

He urged innovators to explore mobile, modular, and decentralised manufacturing models that meet Nigeria’s unique needs sustainably.

President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Francis Meshioye, hailed the Expo’s theme as aligned with global manufacturing trends.

“This isn’t just about display—it’s about transformation, innovation, and elevating our industrial capabilities,” Meshioye told attendees