George Onafowokan, the managing director of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, has called for more investment in the cable infrastructure to drive sustainable development in Nigeria.
He emphasised the critical role of cable infrastructure in national development, urging Nigeria to prioritize investments in the sector.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) held in Abuja, Onafowokan highlighted that 15 per cent of global infrastructure spending is linked to ‘Cable’, underscoring the sector’s significance.
“Infrastructure spending is crucial, especially in industries like mine, which impact everyday life. Cable infrastructure is essential even in classrooms, yet Nigeria does not prioritize cable infrastructure the same way it does petroleum or cement,” he stated.
Onafowokan stressed the need for strategic allocation of the Nigerian Content Intervention (NCI) funds to bridge critical infrastructure gaps.
He pointed out that projects such as FPSOs, power plants, houses, and data centres all depend on robust cable infrastructure to support the oil and gas industry.
While acknowledging the progress made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) through initiatives like the Nigerian Content Law, Onafowokan challenged other agencies to complement these efforts.
“The NCDMB has made significant progress, but what are other institutions doing to enhance this? We must ensure that both direct and indirect investments are channelled into key infrastructural developments,” he said.
Onafowokan noted that stakeholders in the energy and infrastructure sectors are calling for more localised investments to drive sustainable development in Nigeria.
