A systems engineer, Badmus Molokwu, says Nigeria can overcome supply chain constraints by embracing frugal innovation and maximising local raw materials. Mr Molokwu said this in an interview on Tuesday in Abuja.

He spoke on pathways for strengthening local manufacturing and infrastructure development across critical sectors.

He said Nigeria’s dependence on imported technologies has continued to expose infrastructure projects to exchange rate volatility, procurement delays and supply disruptions that affect timely project delivery.

According to him, local engineers possess sufficient technical capacity to design and build durable solutions if supported through research funding, standardisation, local content policies and stronger collaboration between industries and universities.

“Frugal innovation is not about producing inferior products. It is about achieving greater value with available resources while maintaining quality, reliability and long-term sustainability,” he said.

Mr Molokwu said countries that transformed their industrial sectors invested deliberately in adapting technologies to local conditions instead of relying on imported equipment and foreign technical expertise.

“Our engineers should begin with materials that exist abundantly around them. We have laterite, limestone, bamboo, agricultural residues and several industrial minerals that can support innovative engineering applications,” he said.

The expert said locally modified construction materials could improve road durability while reducing dependence on imported inputs whose costs escalate because of currency fluctuations and international market uncertainties.

He added that the engineers could develop affordable renewable energy systems using locally fabricated mounting structures, battery enclosures and balance-of-system components instead of importing complete installations.

“Clean energy does not begin with imported solar panels alone. It begins with designing systems that local industries can assemble, maintain, repair and continuously improve,” he said.

Mr Molokwu also advocated increased local production of telecom infrastructure, including equipment housings, towers, fibre accessories, and power systems, which could significantly reduce project costs and create skilled employment opportunities.

According to him, systems engineering encourages designers to optimise performance, cost, maintenance and lifecycle management simultaneously, making infrastructure more resilient under Nigeria’s environmental and economic conditions.

“When engineers understand the complete system, they eliminate unnecessary complexity, reduce waste and improve reliability. That is exactly what frugal innovation seeks to accomplish,” he said.

He urged governments to strengthen procurement policies favouring locally manufactured engineering products that meet established quality standards, saying consistent demand would encourage private investment and technological advancement.

Mr Molokwu further called for stronger partnerships among research institutions, manufacturers and engineering professionals to accelerate commercialisation of indigenous innovations capable of solving Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.

“Nigeria’s greatest resource is not only what lies beneath the ground but also the ingenuity of its engineers. If we trust local innovation and invest consistently, we can build infrastructure that is affordable, durable and globally competitive,” he said.

(NAN)