Mr John Ezeobi, Chairman, Managing Director of Zobis Cables Ltd has  called on Nigeria government to provide more enabling environment for  cable manufacturing companies in the country.
 
 He said doing so would  enable them to compete favourably with their foreign competitors.
 
 Zobis is an indigenous cable and wire manufacturing firm based in Anambra.
 
 Ezeobi told newsmen in Ogbaru on Sunday that most imported wires were  largely of poor quality and low price and with suppressive effect on  local industry players.
 
He said importers were only interested in quick profit and were ready to  compromise quality provided it would come at a cost that will make the  price cheaper than those manufactured in Nigeria.
 Ezeobi called on federal government to intensify restriction on imported  cables as well as encourage firms with low interest loans and tax  holidays.
 
He said Nigeria cables had been provided to be of best quality across  the country because of the strong regulatory and approval process of  government agencies like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
 
Ezeobi said quality of locally manufactured cables were reliable  provided they passed the evaluation process and got approval from the  relevant agencies, adding that no manufacturer would like to ruin his  brand because of cutting corners.
 
The young entrepreneur who said he started as a trading company before  progressing to importation said the Nigerian cable industry was stifled  because of the negativities associated with foreign substitutes.
 
“We decided to go into manufacturing because most imported cables and  wires do not have guarantee, even when you go to the company and give  them specification, they will produce something else.
 
“When such product arrive Nigeria, you will be forced to sell below cost  price to dispose them, you cannot send them back to the country of  origin because of huge cost.
 
“Again, you cannot go the full length of checking the quality of over  10, 000 coils of cable, what that means is that as an importer you are  not sure of the quality of what you are selling.
 
“The advantage of patronising made in Nigeria cables is that there is  the Nigerian industrial standard, and if the product in question is  certified by the regulator it goes with guarantee.
 
“Before you move your products out the factory, the quality control  department must have done due and thorough checks and if there is a  failure, your company sign on the which is compulsory will find you out.
 
“There are government agencies that regulate the cable market, they are  out there checking compliance, if you are found wanting, you will be  made to face the law, no producer will like to invest and lose his money  to shortchanging the system.
 
“If you work to build a brand, you will not want to rubbish it and lose  your investment because you want to cut cost or engage in unwholesome  industrial practice,“ he said.
The Zobis MD who said his products had passed through the Mandatory  Compliance and Assessment Programme (MANCAP) of SON and certified  observed that poor quality wires and cables were partly responsible for  electric fires urged electricians to insist on Nigerian cables.
 
“I want to encourage electricians and electrical engineers to insist on  quality cables made here in Nigeria, not just made in Nigeria but  quality ones, they can make their money but not through substandard  cables, the consequence is severe on the society. 



 
                                








 
			















 
                                





