The Imperative of Cable Infrastructure Investment for National Development in Nigeria
George Onafowokan, Managing Director of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, has issued a compelling call to the Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritize investment in cable infrastructure. Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian International Energy Summit in Abuja, Onafowokan emphasized the critical role of cable infrastructure as a driver of national development, arguing that infrastructure spending should extend beyond traditional sectors like petroleum and cement to encompass this vital area. He highlighted the pervasive impact of cable infrastructure on everyday life, citing its indispensable role in telecommunications, even within educational settings like classrooms. Despite this crucial function, Onafowokan lamented the inadequate prioritization of cable infrastructure in Nigeria compared to sectors like petroleum and cement.
Onafowokan underscored the global significance of cable infrastructure, noting that it accounts for 15% of global infrastructure spending. This statistic serves as a powerful indicator of the need for Nigeria to reassess its approach to the cable sector and recognize its potential for driving economic growth and development. He advocated for the strategic allocation of the Nigerian Content Intervention funds to address the existing gaps in cable infrastructure. Onafowokan pointed out the dependence of key national projects on robust cable networks, including Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units, power plants, housing developments, and data centers. These projects, crucial for Nigeria’s energy and technological advancement, cannot function optimally without a strong foundation of cable infrastructure.
While commending the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for its initiatives in promoting local content, Onafowokan urged other institutions to complement these efforts. He emphasized the importance of collaborative action, advocating for both direct and indirect investments to be channeled into key infrastructural developments, particularly in the cable sector. He highlighted the need for a concerted approach involving various stakeholders to ensure that the gains achieved by the NCDMB are amplified and sustained through broader institutional support and investment. This coordinated effort, he argued, would maximize the impact of local content development initiatives on the nation’s infrastructure and overall economic growth.
Onafowokan’s call to action reflects a growing consensus among stakeholders in the energy and infrastructure sectors regarding the imperative of increased local investment to bolster Nigeria’s economic and industrial capacity. His participation in a panel discussion on "Accelerating Local Content Development: Practical Solutions for Africa’s Energy Future" provided a platform for him to articulate this vital message. The panel, which convened at the Nigerian International Energy Summit, brought together key players in the energy and infrastructure sectors to explore strategies for enhancing local content development. Onafowokan’s contribution to this discussion highlighted the often-overlooked but crucial role of cable infrastructure in achieving sustainable economic growth.
The panel discussion, featuring prominent industry leaders, provided a forum for in-depth analysis of local content development strategies. Among the participants were Kola Karim, Chairman of Shoreline Natural Resources Limited (SNRL), Chris Ijeli, Managing Director of Dorman Long Nigeria, and Joy Shaiyen, Founder of Arcus 360. These industry experts brought their diverse perspectives to the discussion, enriching the conversation on how to effectively leverage local resources and expertise to drive economic growth. The panel also included key figures from the energy sector, such as Obi Uzu, Managing Director of Gas Processing, Production & Supply Services Limited (GPPSL), and Iroghama Ogbeifu, Managing Director of Starzs Investments Co. Ltd., emphasizing the importance of local content development in the energy sector.
The presence of representatives from major international oil companies, such as Emem Abraham, Procurement and Nigerian Content Development General Manager at Esso Exploration and Production Niger, and Olanrewaju Olawuyi, General Manager of Nigerian Content Development at Shell, further underscored the importance of the discussion. Their participation signifies the commitment of these companies to fostering local content development and collaborating with Nigerian stakeholders to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. The diverse range of perspectives and expertise represented on the panel ensured a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the challenges and opportunities associated with accelerating local content development in Africa’s energy future. Onafowokan’s call for prioritizing cable infrastructure investment thus resonated within a larger conversation about the crucial role of local content in driving sustainable development in the energy sector and beyond.
