Dealers Call for Ban on Importation of Window Blinds

The window blinds market in Nigeria is currently crawling owing to credit squeeze attributable to the recent shake up in the banking sector. Dealers claim the Chinese economy has benefitted hugely from the situation even though they allege that blinds imported from China are of inferior quality.
Speaking to M2 during last week’s market survey, Samuel Ajuyah, General Manager – Project and Marketing, Sunlight Blinds W/A Ltd, expresses regret that, “the recent shake up in the banks and the attendant credit squeeze have really impacted adversely on the young and hitherto growing market”, adding that besides this, “70 per cent of the products in the Nigerian window blind market are of inferior standards imported from China.
According to Ajuyah “this situation is already forcing small players out of the market while also inducing unhealthy competition among the major players.”
He therefore calls on the Federal Government to place a ban on the importation of window blinds such as the 16/25/35/50mm aluminum venetian blinds, 127mm vertical fabric blinds, 25/50mm real wood venetian and roller blinds which he claims major players in Nigeria are capable of producing to satisfy local demands.
He expresses optimism that government will support the development of the sector saying, “we hope that with time, the Federal Government will encourage local production of these high fashion blinds by placing a ban on its importation”.