ARCHITECT Abiodun Akinrimisi has urged Nigerians to support the country’s growing economy by patronising made-in-Nigeria products.

Speaking at a press briefing, he warned that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imports is economically dangerous, stressing that it could weaken the local industries and impede Nigeria’s ability to achieve sustainable economic growth.

Akinrimisi, who advocated for value addition rather than exporting, criticised Nigeria’s export structure, which he said relies largely on raw materials. He said: “We should stop exporting raw materials. We export our cocoa, cashew and other commodities raw, it’s a waste actually.“

He referenced Aba-made shoes as an example of a local industry with export potential if improved and supported.
To address the challenges, he suggested that a structured funding model involving states where the federal government would set aside 1 billion monthly for each state from its allocation for industrial development, should be adopted.

“That is ₦36 billion would be saved in a month. All these insurgencies are because people have nothing to do. The devil looks for work for the hand that is idle,” he said.

“Twelve folds of N6bn industries established with all honesty in each geo-political hub would create jobs, boost the economy and reduce restiveness.

He said: “Let us massively copy to catch up with the advanced economies ,then begin to research to move ahead.”
Besides, he urged the government to urgently pursue practical, people-focused industrialisation as a pathway to economic recovery and sustainable development.

Akinrimisi argued that Nigeria does not need to reinvent the wheel to industrialise but must deliberately emulate countries like China and India through backward integration and strategic copying of existing technologies.