Nigeria has made a bold stride toward digital self-reliance with the commissioning of Africa’s largest fibre optic cable factory and the continent’s first fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) manufacturing facility.
The landmark project, executed by Coleman Technical Industries Limited (CTIL) in Sagamu, Ogun State, signals a new era of local innovation powered by indigenous financing and industrial capacity.
Commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the facility is designed to produce up to nine million kilometres of fibre optic cables annually and process over 13,000 tons of copper and aluminium each month.
The President described the plant as a “strategic national asset” that will strengthen Nigeria’s digital backbone and enhance its competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In line with Nigeria’s ambition to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables nationwide, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said the government will increasingly rely on domestic manufacturers like Coleman.
He added that this approach, supported by robust local partnerships, will cut costs, build skills, and foster economic inclusion across the ICT sector.
The project’s success is underpinned by local financing from First City Monument Bank (FCMB), the Bank of Industry (BOI), and InfraCredit, an alliance that demonstrates how well-structured finance can accelerate industrial transformation. FCMB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Yemisi Edun, said the project reflects the bank’s belief in finance as a tool for national progress, job creation, and inclusive growth.
Coleman’s Managing Director, Mr. George Onafowokan, said the new facility is expected to create over 20,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect ones, while Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, hailed the project as a turning point for Nigeria’s manufacturing and digital infrastructure landscape.
He noted that the domestication of fibre production would drastically reduce import dependence, close the digital divide, and elevate Nigeria’s position as a technology hub for Africa.
