We started this discussion on this page last week and due to space constraint we could not finish up and thus promised to end it this week. It is, however, amazing, the number of people who have been reacting to the publication of last week.
Some have expressed their disappointment over the quality and the finishing of locally manufactured goods while others have written to say that Nigerian made products cannot compete with foreign ones because of the poor quality of the local ones.
Without any inhibitions, some consumers expressed their preferences for foreign imported goods while two or more persons said that finding alternatives to foreign made goods in Nigeria will be a herculean task.
However, there are many people especially in the manufacturing sector who expressed optimism over Nigerian goods and said that if given the encouragement from consumers and government that indigenously produced products will be able to compete internationally.
Whichever view you are holding, we are going to address all of them. The main fact here is that the federal government wants to build the local industry and has stopped the importers of about 41 items from accessing foreign exchange through the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN]. Though they can obtain foreign exchange from the alternative black market, it will be at a higher rate.
The scarcity of the foreign exchange has left traders with no option than to be thronging some commercial cities in the country to buy goods in order to remain in business.
Some of the traders resorted to going to Aba, Onitsha, Lagos, and Kano markets, among others, due to the scarcity of foreign exchange in both the commercial banks and the markets.
Depending on the business one is into, some of the traders patronise indigenous manufacturers directly. For instance, most traders who are into textile and shoes and slippers throng Aba for good local alternatives.
So, what this is resulting to is that more local products are displayed in the supermarkets and open markets.
Already, Supermarket.ng, one of the online supermarkets and grocery delivery service, recently officially launched a new initiative called ‘Proudly Nigerian’ with the goal of encouraging the purchase of local products.
All locally produced products in the supermarket are now labelled with a ‘Proudly Nigerian’ stamp, making it easier for customers to decide whether to spend their hard-earned naira on local products or not.
“We do not intend to force the choice, we are just making it easier for people to have access to information at the point of decision making. We have been doing a test run over the last two months and we have seen a 32per cent increase in the proportion of local products purchased, an amazing result,” enthused Raphael Afaedor, co-founder of Supermart.ng.
The attitude and perception of consumers toward their choice of goods sometimes depend on categories. Mr. Paul .K. Obiajulu, an Electrical Engineer, said that “Nigerian made electrical cables and aluminium profiles are of a higher grade and even slightly more expensive than any of the imported ones.”
Obiajulu, who is also a Building contractor, stated that Nigeria makes one of the best electrical cables and aluminium profiles followed by Britain. “I have been in this business for a long time, so I know what I’m talking of. There is great demand for the Nigerian made ones all over Africa and this has made the price higher. The Nigerian made ones are far higher in quality and that is why the demand is also higher.”
Dr. Veronica Fagbemi, a Food Scientist, said that when it comes to tomato puree, she will counsel people to go for the indigenously made ones as they are of higher quality. Fortunately, NAFDAC has also made it public that 91 per cent of the imported tomato pastes are filled with bulking agents and artificial colouring.
A good alternative for foreign shoes and slippers will be Aba-made foot wears. The same thing can be said for men’s shirts and trousers.
Majority of men are already purchasing them from markets and shops unknowingly. They think the trousers, shirts and suits are foreign made because of the labels. And because of the foreign labels they perceive them well tailored.
The list is inexhaustible, but like Waheed Olagunju, the Managing Director, Bank of Industry [BOI], said, “I think we need to get over this inferiority complex among our citizens. A product that is made in Nigeria to the highest standard should make us proud as opposed to longing for a made in China product.”