The federal government has been advised to focus on homegrown solutions to address Nigeria’s persistent grid collapses. George Onafowokan, Managing Director of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, emphasized this while commenting on the country’s electricity challenges and the government’s investment drive in the power sector.
Onafowokan stressed the need for industrialization and deregulation within the sector, arguing that sustainable progress hinges on private-sector-driven policies. While acknowledging that locally manufactured products may be costlier due to production challenges, he maintained that Nigeria has the capacity to meet and exceed its power infrastructure needs.
“There’s a pressing need for industrialization within the sector. We must replace outdated cables and materials used in power transmission, sourcing everything locally,” he stated.
Sympathizing with the government, Onafowokan noted that Nigeria’s power crisis has persisted for years, worsened by periods of complacency since the country’s return to democracy. “Solving the electricity problem is not an overnight task, but local solutions must be at the forefront of the strategy,” he added.
