Coleman Technical Industries Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading high voltage cable makers, has opened the largest fibre optic cable manufacturing factory in Africa, following the completion of an expansion work on its already existing plant.
In a post published on her verified LinkedIn page, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the “expansion strengthens the backbone of our digital economy.”
“Every kilometre of fibre produced here strengthens the backbone of our digital economy, enabling broadband access, securing e-commerce, and modern public services,” Oduwole said at commissioning of the facility in Sagamu, Ogun State,
“In a world where data is the new essential infrastructure, local capacity in fibre optics reduces import dependence, conserves foreign exchange, and positions Nigeria as a regional supplier under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”
The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with a production capacity of over 9 million km of fibre optic cables, making it Africa’s single-largest fibre optic cables plant and the first Fibre-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) production factory.
The facility also features a copper and aluminium smelting facility capable of processing up to 13,000 t/month.
Coleman’s Managing Director, George Onafowokan, stated that Coleman is targeting ₦15tn (~$10bn) in revenue in the coming years, with over half projected from exports.
Onafowokan also said the company expects to create more than 20,000 direct and 200,000 indirect jobs, with at least 30% female participation, while generating over ₦1tn in export revenue from its fibre optic operations.
However, Oduwole described the project as a strategic national asset, stating it will enable smart industry, and create quality jobs while positioning Nigeria as a reliable AfCFTA supplier.
She said the project will also help conserve FX and advance “technology sovereignty” for Nigeria. Coleman also used the commissioning ceremony to mark its 50 years of operations in the country.