Vitafoam urges government to create effective border control mechanisms

Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, has stressed the need for government to create effective border control mechanisms that would help prevent infiltration of substandard products into the country.

The Group Managing Director, Vitafoam Nigeria, Taiwo Adeniyi Adeniyi, told journalists at the launch of eight new products in Lagos, on Wednesday, that the porous borders indicate that the country is not yet ready to sign on to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

AfCFTA aims at creating a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the Continental Customs Union, and the African Customs Union.

He explained that manufacturers are not against the trade agreement as speculated, but insisted that adequate measures must be taken to monitor the borders so that Nigeria would not become a dumping ground for substandard products when the pact is eventually signed.
“At the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) level, what we are saying to government is that as far as this environment is concerned, we are not ready. Our boarders are so porous.”

On the launch of the new products, Adeniyi said the products were borne from Vitafoam’s culture of innovativeness, adding that product differentiation had become one of the hallmarks of the Group, which makes it difficult for anyone to clone its unique products.

The products launched included Vita Pearl, a pillow that regulates temperature and draws moisture from body, assorted customised beds, sofas, trifold mat for leisure, reading chairs, three specialised mattresses – orthopedic and classic, and various polyurethane sandwich panel steel.

“ For us in Vitafoam, we are very concerned about innovation. Our ability to research, develop and then end up in innovating different products that meet the customers’ needs gives us great satisfaction. This launch is long overdue because we have sneaked into the market a number of products, which were not particularly launched this way, and basically adding to the array of success stories of Vitafoam.”

Also speaking, the Operator of Vitafoam’s Comfort Center, Ilupeju, Toye Adegboye, said the new products would enhance Vitafoam’s diversification of appeal for a diverse spectrum of customers.

“Some of the products are pocket-friendly, and without compromising standard. As a good corporate citizen, all the company’s products are of high quality, a target of Vitafoam as a group, which is making business to thrive for us as their partners.”

Commenting on operations, Vitafoam’s Commercial Director, Sola Owoade, noted that the subsidiaries had been developed in a way that each specialises in manufacturing of specific products, and they are doing well.
According to him, Vitafoam as a group leverages on Research and Development to keep abreast of changing dynamics of customers’ demand.