President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially approved the “Nigeria First Policy,” a directive aimed at prioritizing the use of locally made goods and services in all government procurement. Under the new policy, foreign goods or services will not be procured if equivalent options exist within Nigeria. When local supply falls short, contracts must be structured to build domestic capacity rather than relying on intermediaries sourcing from abroad while local industries remain underutilized.
Key directives include:
For the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP):
• Immediately update and enforce guidelines to prioritize Nigerian products and solutions.
• Establish a “Local Content Compliance Framework” for all federal procurement.
• Keep a registry of reputable Nigerian manufacturers and service providers regularly engaged by the government.
• Resume full control over the deployment of procurement officers across MDAs, ensuring operational efficiency.
For Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs):
• No foreign procurement is allowed when local alternatives exist, unless a waiver is granted in writing by the BPP.
• If local options aren’t available, contracts must include measures for local production, technology transfer, or skills development.
• Immediate audit and revision of all procurement plans to align with the new policy.
• Violations will result in sanctions, including cancelled contracts and disciplinary action against the responsible officials.
This policy aims to strengthen domestic industries, reduce over-reliance on imports, and promote sustainable economic growth through local investment and innovation.
