Paint manufacturers have called for urgent government action to improve the operating environment, reduce dependence on imported raw materials and align industry standards with local realities, warning that high production costs, poor infrastructure and weak security are limiting the sector’s growth despite its huge market potential.

The call was made at the 33rd yearly general meeting of the Paints Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMA) held in Lagos, where industry players also urged stronger collaboration with regulators to increase local participation in specialised coatings used by major industries, particularly oil and gas.

Speaking at the meeting themed, ‘Future of the Nigerian Paints Industry: Strategies for Growth and Sustainability’, the newly-elected PMA Chair and Group Managing Director, Chemstar Industries, Adedayo Paseda, said the operators would focus on issues affecting all members and deepen engagements beyond the annual meeting.

He described standardisation as one of the most pressing issues confronting the industry, noting that many specialised coatings used in Nigeria are governed by foreign standards, making it difficult for local manufacturers to compete.

“There are areas where paints and coatings are utilised within Nigeria for which the local content is very minimal, if not nil. The standards that govern those products are set outside Nigeria and the multinational companies operating here rely on them. We seek deeper collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria so those standards can become ours through adoption.”

According to him, adopting such standards locally would make them more accessible to local manufacturers and enable more indigenous companies to participate in a market that is currently dominated by imports.

He also identified insecurity, poor road infrastructure, high import duties and cumbersome port processes as major obstacles to manufacturing.

“The environment is not conducive; insecurity is a huge disincentive to business. Our roads are bad; moving goods from Lagos to Abuja can take four or five days. That means lost business time and increased risk,” he said.

He noted that over 95 per cent of raw materials used by the paint industry are imported, making manufacturers vulnerable to tariffs, duties and import delays.

“If these costs are not moderated, finished products become very expensive. Consumers’ purchasing power has already reduced, so the market begins to shrink in volume even if revenue appears to increase,” he added.

Paseda added that his leadership would continue to mobilise members around issues that deliver tangible benefits to their businesses.

Representing the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Regional Director, Lagos Operations, Theresa Ojomo, urged manufacturers to prioritise quality and certification to strengthen local production and exports. Ojomo disclosed that all locally manufactured products would be required to bear SON’s new certification logo as of October 1, 2026.

She explained that certified products would also be required to display information such as intended use, star rating, shelf life, manufacturer’s name and brand name to help consumers make informed choices.

Delivering the keynote address, Principal Partner, TomFlims Associates International Limited, Leke Ogundimu, urged manufacturers to embrace data, digital technology and artificial intelligence to remain competitive in a rapidly changing market.

He estimated the paint industry at about $2.7 billion, saying manufacturers must position themselves to capture a larger share of the market.

Ogundimu projected that the market could reach $6 billion over the next 12 years, driven by urbanisation, infrastructure development and industrial expansion. He noted that while decorative paints still dominate in terms of volume, protective and industrial coatings used in sectors such as oil and gas present the biggest growth opportunities.

He also stressed that digital tools were no longer optional for manufacturers. He further identified raw material inflation, FX volatility and competition from informal producers as key challenges affecting the industry’s profitability and urged the government to support manufacturers through tax incentives, improved access to financing and more reliable power supply.