Local aluminium brands are under threat following the annual importation of the product put at over NGN 100 billion. Local manufacturers complain that importation of the product, especially from China is seriously affecting their operations.
The manufacturers said that foreign aluminium brands were inferior to local products, but still they were being patronized by gullible Nigerians who do not know the difference.
According to Mr Emeka Ezeh an aluminium dealer at Aluminium Village in Dopemu Lagos, about 100 containers of 40 feet each of aluminium product enter the village weekly with each costing between NGN 12 million and NGN 17 million each.
Sources in some of the aluminium manufacturing companies argue that the importation is affecting the level of employment in the sector and discouraging local investors. Presently, there are 7 aluminium manufacturing plants in Nigeria with a total of about 3,500 employees, and the sources maintain that this level of employment could go up if importation is limited.
However, an importer at the village explained that not all companies import sub standard products. To him, the Chinese manufacturing companies produce importer's specification, noting that those who import sub standard brands do that to maximize profits.
(Sourced from www.businessdayonline.com)
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