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By Merit Ibe
Buried deep in the bowels of Nigeria are rich rare earth minerals that could transform the country. One key product these raw materials can produce is ceramics and experts say it is time to make it one of the focal points of industrialisation.
According to them. Nigeria’s ceramic sector holds vast but largely untapped potential and with the right policies and targeted investments, the sector could significantly reduce import dependence, create jobs, conserve foreign exchange and boost non-oil export earnings.
Industry projections indicate that Nigeria could earn up to $2.1 billion annually from ceramic exports if critical structural gaps are addressed.
Interestingly, Nigeria is endowed with ceramic-grade minerals such as kaolin, feldspar, quartz, silica sand and ball clay, found in states including Kogi, Ekiti, Ogun, Plateau, Kaduna, and Cross River.
Manufacturers argue that rising urbanisation, a fast-growing population, and increasing demand for housing and infrastructure are driving demand for ceramic products such as tiles, sanitary wares, tableware, and electrical insulators.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has repeatedly stressed that the country possesses the mineral base needed to support a competitive ceramic industry.
According to MAN, strengthening local ceramic manufacturing aligns with the federal government’s industrialisation and import-substitution agenda.
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has also highlighted Nigeria’s strong raw-material endowment, noting that improved beneficiation and standardisation could enhance the quality of locally sourced inputs.
Stakeholders say the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers significant export opportunities for Nigerian ceramic products, especially within West Africa where construction activity is expanding.
Despite these prospects, operators say the sector continues to face major structural challenges.
High energy costs remain a key bottleneck, as ceramic production is energy-intensive and unreliable electricity supply forces manufacturers to rely on expensive gas and diesel.
Poor road infrastructure and weak logistics systems also raise the cost of transporting raw materials from mining sites to factories and finished goods to markets.
Local producers further complain of intense competition from imported ceramics, many of which are under-priced or substandard, undermining domestic manufacturers.
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MAN has warned that weak border controls and poor enforcement of quality standards continue to fuel the influx of cheap imports.
Limited access to finance is another major constraint, with high interest rates and short loan tenors restricting expansion, technology upgrades, and capacity utilisation.
Industry experts also point to a technology and skills gap, noting that many operators still rely on outdated machinery while skilled ceramic engineers and technicians are in short supply.
Frequent policy changes and inconsistent enforcement of industrial regulations have further discouraged long-term investment in the sector.
Commenting on the sector, ceramic engineer and academic Prof. Eguakhide Oaikhinan said Nigeria could earn up to $2.1 billion in ceramic exports if these challenges are addressed.
Oaikhinan noted that Nigeria spends over $300 million annually on ceramic imports, while exports stand at about $14 million, largely from re-exports rather than local production.
Comparing global benchmarks, he said China produces about 7.9 billion square metres of tiles annually, while Nigeria produces less than 40 million square metres, with Egypt remaining Africa’s leading ceramic producer.
He stressed that sustained investment in education and capacity building could save Nigeria over $300 million yearly and reposition ceramics as a driver of industrial growth and job creation.
Oaikhinan added that ceramics could drive rural industrialisation through cluster development, reducing rural–urban migration and strengthening local economies.
“Nigeria currently spends more than 300 million dollars each year importing ceramic products, while exports are estimated at about $14m , and these re-exports rather than locally manufactured.
“Industry projections suggest Nigeria could earn up to 2.1 billion dollars in ceramic exports if critical gaps are addressed.
Ceramics hold significant potential to drive industrialisation, especially in rural areas, through the development of industrial clusters that can generate jobs and reduce rural-urban migration.”
Also speaking, John Isemede, National Expert on Agricultural and Export Value Chains and former Director-General of NACCIMA, lamented that about 62 per cent of ceramics imported into Nigeria come from China.
Isemede criticised Nigeria’s reliance on re-exports, high taxation, multiple checkpoints, and weak incentives for production, noting that these factors make local products uncompetitive.
Stakeholders agree that with stable policies, energy reforms, improved infrastructure, affordable financing, and skills development, Nigeria’s ceramic sector could become a competitive manufacturing and export hub in Africa.
