Wires and Cables in Nigeria

Essential Guide 2026

Use the table below as a quick reference for selecting the correct cable type for your project.

Armoured Cables

Armoured cables provide mechanical protection for harsh environments where cables are exposed to physical stress, ground pressure, or other threats.

• SWA — Steel Wire Armour: Multi-core heavy-duty applications, underground installation, and industrial environments
• AWA — Aluminium Wire Armour: Single-core AC systems where steel armour would cause induced currents and energy loss

Non-Armoured Cables

Non-armoured cables are flexible and ideal for indoor or protected installations where mechanical protection is not required. They are lighter, easier to handle, and typically less costly.

XLPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene) insulation offers significantly higher temperature ratings and better electrical performance than standard PVC — making it the preferred choice for demanding installations.

• Armoured XLPE: Underground or exposed installations requiring both thermal performance and mechanical protection
• Non-Armoured XLPE: Protected indoor applications with heavy current loads where PVC insulation would reach its thermal limit

Installation Tips

• Maintain the correct bending radius — excessive bending damages the insulation
• Avoid routing near heat sources that could reduce the cable’s rated ampacity
• Provide adequate separation from other power cables to prevent mutual heating

Control cables are essential for industrial signal transmission, automation systems, and process instrumentation. They carry low-power signals between sensors, controllers, and actuators.

• Available in armoured or non-armoured forms depending on mechanical protection requirements
• Can have single or multi-core, single or multi-strand configurations for different signal types

• Single-Core Cables: Dedicated circuits, grounding conductors, and instrumentation — each conductor routed individually
• Multi-Core Cables: Multiple conductors within one outer sheath, simplifying complex installations and reducing cable clutter in trays and conduits

Multi-core cables are the standard choice for motor feeds, distribution boards, and general building wiring where several circuits run along the same route.

• Single-Strand (Solid): Fixed, stable installations such as wall conduit, trunking, and panel wiring — lower cost, holds its shape
• Multi-Strand (Flexible): Ideal for generators, machinery connections, and any application involving regular movement or vibration

Always match the strand class to the application: using solid conductors where flexibility is needed can cause premature conductor fatigue and failure.

Correct cable sizing ensures safe current flow, avoids overheating, and maximises efficiency. Every sizing decision must account for all of the following:

Absolute Cablemart’s cables meet the requirements of internationally recognised standards, providing assurance of safety, durability, and reliable performance across all applications.

Our wires and cables serve a broad range of sectors across Nigeria’s economy — each with distinct performance requirements.

We offer armoured, non-armoured, copper, aluminium, XLPE, and control cables in single/multi-core and single/multi-strand configurations, ensuring the right solution for every project.