Faced with dwindling foreign exchange earnings, the Paint Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMA) has urged the federal government to attach importance to the development of the raw materials base
While pledging to encourage investors who are willing to invest in paint raw material production and development, they appealed to the government to extend intellectual, technological, legal and financial collaboration and support to local industries working to develop indigenous substitutes.
They also asked the regulatory agencies in the nations’ industrial sector to urgently design a model called, the “Nigerian Standard in the coating sector” for the production of highly aesthetic products for the Nigerian Market and checkmate circulation of adulterated brands.
The association lamented the prevalence of adulterated paints, which it noted, has posed great menace to peoples’ health and the environment. It also states that such paint lacked all the ingredients of good and quality material hence, the constant failure, few months after application on buildings.
Speaking at the opening of the 2017 edition of its Coatings Show themed; “Raw Materials Sourcing for the Coatings Industry” organized by the PMA in Lagos, Chairman of PMA, Mr. Rotimi Aluko observed the need to set up paint laboratories in the country where a Nigeria paint standard could be design rather than applying foreign standards for the sector.
He suggested that government should be more responsive in tackling the challenges of poor supply of electricity, poor road network, access to funding to paint operators, monitoring of the disbursement of bail out fund to manufacturers, and insecurity of lives and property.
The Director General of Nigeria Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Hussaini Doko Ibrahim who spoke on the effort of the council in sourcing for raw materials/ technology for Nigeria paint industry explained that against the background of high raw material importation in the sector, the council in collaboration with the chemical and paint sector of MAN initiated some projects under its Research and Development Programme.
According to him, such initiatives include; development of calcined kaotinas potential substitute to titanium dioxide in paint making, development of natural rubbers polyvinyl acetate blends for water soluble paint production and the development of alkyd resin using rubber seed oil.
Represented by Dr. Moses Omojola, he pointed out that the industry is still imbued with low capacity in production as Nigerian paint sector currently contribute only 9 per cent of the total Africa Paint Market while South Africa leads. He therefore urged the operators to synergize, explore latest technology and expand the scope of production in the country.
Speaking on standard in the industry, the Director General of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma represented by Dr. Afolabi Afolayan affirmed that the organization would not relent in enforcement of rules and regulation for paint production in the country. He said standards are products of collaborative efforts by all stakeholders and stressed the need for the operators to develop their independent laboratories through its technical committees in order to address its needs.
In a remark, the Lagos State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Commerce; Rotimi Ogunleye assured manufacturers in the state of continuous government supports especially, in the area of ease of doing business. Represented by the Head of Trade Promotion in the Ministry; Mrs. Bashirudin Omolabake, he noted that the topic of the show is apt in the quest to diversify the economy and encourage sourcing of raw materials locally.adding that with right environment and promotional tools, there would be sustainable economic growth.
