Furniture makers promise innovation at Abuja Housing Show

The Sales Manager, AFP Furniture, Mr Uche Uzoewulu, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja last week, said, “Because of reputation and standard you would expect from Julius Berger, we will give quality. We have products with unrivalled quality. We’ll use the Abuja Housing Show to reach out to our clients. We’ll have special promotions during […]

The Sales Manager, AFP Furniture, Mr Uche Uzoewulu, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja last week, said, “Because of reputation and standard you would expect from Julius Berger, we will give quality. We have products with unrivalled quality. We’ll use the Abuja Housing Show to reach out to our clients. We’ll have special promotions during the show.”
According to him, his company selects its raw materials from the finest sources.
Head of Section Mr Egon Lux who took reporters round the company’s factory explained that the company gets its high quality timber from Benin City, Edo State.
“Our concern is quality. We have a name – our customers should be happy as our workers are,” he stated.
The company with 480 workers consumes 800 cubic metres of wood and produces 5,000 doors every year.
“We can stop furniture import. Julius Berger has the biggest furniture factory in West Africa. We’re strong enough to do all furniture in Nigeria,” Lux boasted.
The company produces cabinets including home and office furniture. Most of the products are veneer.
Our reporter observed that though the primary raw material which is wood is locally sourced, the machines mostly imported.
New machines had arrived and were waiting to unpacked and mounted for work. Old ones are packed.
The most interesting thing about the factory is it is devoid of sawdust because all machines are linked to dust collector system.
AFP Furniture was founded in 1992 by management of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
Similarly, Alpha-Plus Associates Limited, has promised to showcase world class home and office furniture as well as aluminum products during the show.
When Daily Trust visited the company, the Managing Director of Alpha-Plus Associates Limited, Mr Ikechukwu Ijeomah said, “We’re showing our furniture and aluminum products.”
“Our doors can be fire rated. The minimum fire rating for our doors is 30 minutes. But we can manufacture for one hour, two hours. Of course, this is done at higher costs.
“We’re going to be at the Abuja Housing Show come 23rd of June. We’ll showcase our capabilities, our quality,” the Managing Director promised.
He enumerated challenges facing his company. “Every item is manufactured here. But of course, we face challenges – power shortage, funds shortage.
“Too many charges, taxes to pay, duties to pay on factors of production. You import stuff to use to manufacture, there’s high duty on them.
“There’s no way we can compete with those imported where they have cheaper factors of production.
“We have low patronage because our prices are higher. Quality is also higher but the average consumer looks at the price before thinking about the durability or quality of the product.
“Only very few discerning consumers go for quality at the first instance.
“We manufacture things that will last a long time. We apply all the international standards in our production to make sure that whatever you buy, you use it for long.”
Alpha-Plus Associates Limited produces all interior home furniture — wardrobes, sofas, chairs, tables, beds.