The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has reiterated its commitment to creating a business-friendly environment that encourages local content development, fair competition, and technology transfer, assuring both local and foreign investors of stronger advocacy for industrial growth in Nigeria.
Speaking at the recently concluded West Africa Coating Show (WACS), MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, emphasized the association’s determination to work with policymakers to remove regulatory bottlenecks and enhance Nigeria’s manufacturing competitiveness.
Represented by Oluchi Odimuko, Assistant Director, Sectoral and Regulatory Affairs, Ajayi-Kadir noted that coatings and allied industries are critical to Nigeria’s broader industrial ecosystem, contributing significantly to infrastructure, automotive, construction, and packaging sectors.
“Coatings are indispensable for product durability, aesthetics, safety, and environmental performance. MAN remains committed to advocating policies that support local content development, access to raw materials, and fair competition,” he stated.
The West Africa Coating Show, organized by DMG Events in partnership with the Paint Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMA), attracted over 110 brands from 12 countries, including the United States, China, India, and Italy. The three-day event, held in Lagos, provided an avenue for investors, manufacturers, and industry experts to explore emerging opportunities in the West African coatings industry.
Paddy O’Neill, Associate Vice President of DMG Events, described Nigeria as a growing industrial hub, stressing that the show provided a platform for networking, technology exchange, and market intelligence.
“This launch event confirms that Nigeria and the wider West African region remain key investment destinations, with growing interest from multinational companies,” O’Neill said.
The Chairman of PMA Nigeria, Abimbola Babatunde, highlighted the importance of harnessing West Africa’s abundant natural resources to strengthen local industries, create jobs, and discourage youth migration, popularly referred to as the ‘Japa syndrome.’
He also urged governments, estate developers, and property owners to embrace a maintenance culture through regular painting, stressing that coatings not only enhance aesthetics but also increase property value.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) used the platform to advocate for standardization and local innovation.
SON Director-General, Ifeanyi Okeke, represented by Paul Pankes, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing quality and safety standards, including the 90ppm lead limit in paints to protect human health and the environment.
Similarly, RMRDC DG, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, disclosed that the council is upscaling pilot projects on resin production from indigenous raw materials to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on resin imports and conserve foreign exchange.
“Harnessing local resources and adopting modern production techniques will make Nigeria’s paints industry self-reliant, competitive, and export-driven,” Ike-Muonso noted.
Industry stakeholders at the event agreed that Nigeria and Ghana remain the most attractive emerging markets in West Africa, with multinational companies expected to expand operations in the sub-region following the success of the exhibition.
The WACS also provided a business-to-business platform for manufacturers of raw materials, laboratory equipment, and machinery to connect with potential investors, creating new opportunities for industrial partnerships and export diversification.