If stock is taken of imports that have had a serious drain on Nigeria’s cash reserves, furniture may be one of them. Nigerian consumers are spending big on home decor products sourced mainly outside the shores of Nigeria. These furniture are generally imported from Italy, Spain and Turkey. In recent times, other countries like China are flooding Nigeria with furniture/processed wood.
The irony is while importing at great cost, Nigeria’s prized wood like iroko, mahogany, obgeche are chopped down and used as firewood and burnt for charcoal. As foreign companies come buy some of the wood, Nigerians in turn go importing the most expensive wooden doors and furniture.
Importation has made cost of furniture in Nigeria high. This is because of costly labour, freight charges and import duties.
However, a premier construction company in Nigeria appears to be on a journey to reversing this. Julius Berger Plc has established a furniture production facility called AFP. Its factory which is situated in Idu Industrial Layout of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) produces products for furnishing of bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms and corporate buildings. It as well produces doors and cabinets. Whether for a large turnkey project or a personal living space, AFP delivers customized interior design solutions for even the most challenging requirements.
It has got the equipment, machinery and high skilled labour force that enable it to produce in the same standards of leading furniture manufacturing companies in places like Italy, Germany, Turkey and China.
So far, the company has established two showrooms on 53 Gana Street, Maitama District, Abuja and 33 Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. It is quite interesting visiting these places.
What is interesting about all this is AFP is not only offering Nigerians high quality furniture, it is utilizing modern techniques and processes, while manufacturing locally and saving capital flight. The factory in Idu is with the best of industrial standards. AFP might have taken advantage of Nigeria’s relative cheap labour but of course, it is helping the economy.
Apart from saving huge foreign exchange, it is in the lead toward actualising government’s policy of job creation and self-sufficiency. Even before the federal government announced ban on importation of furniture, Julius Berger had been advocating same. The ban was informed by the need to encourage the growth of local manufacturers of interior decoration products in Nigeria.
AFP is gaining traction among homeowners and renters in Nigeria. This is primarily because AFP serves the purpose of quick furnishings.
Viewpoint Housing News wants government to support initiatives of this kind to help grow the economy. Government should consider working condition of local manufacturers of furniture for the local industry to flourish. It should also consider pushing for foreign countries to import our locally produced furniture to shore up Nigeria’s foreign earnings.
It is also our duty to enlighten ourselves about the revolution taking place in the furniture business. There are great furniture makers in the country whose work can rival what are obtainable abroad. The market should be given a boost by patronizing the local producers instead of importing.
Julius Berger is definitely on the right path and will reap bountifully from its investment. This is because in recent years, huge investments have been made in real estate, tourism and hospitality industry, culture and entertainment, which have boosted demand for furniture. In West Africa, Nigeria ranks first as furniture consumer (a large fast growing market).
Indeed, Julius Berger has braved the elements. When investors are closing doors and migrating to other countries on account of chronic electricity shortages which force manufacturers to rely on expensive generators and make local production uncompetitive, Julius Berger is opening new grounds. If other companies toe this line, Nigerian economy will be revolutionised.
