These words resonate. President Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy was a home run. A step in the right direction, one that leads the way to building a robust economy. It is patriotic and economically sound.
It is also in sync with the robust macroeconomic policies of the Tinubu administration to reposition the economy for greater performance. In one single breathe subjecting procurement process to placing Nigeria goods and services first will be scored as one of the boldest display of Political Will to drive through a national policy by any administration, coming on the heels of the effort of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.
The Resonance is here :
To the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP):
○ Immediately revise and enforce procurement guidelines
to prioritise locally made goods and homegrown solutions.
○ Create a “Local Content Compliance Framework” for all government procurements.
○ Maintain a register of high-quality Nigerian manufacturers and service providers regularly engaged by the federal government.
○ No procurement of foreign goods or services already available locally shall proceed without justification and a written waiver from BPP.
In the motor manufacturing and assembling industry and a wide variety of consumer items and sectors, hope has been renewed for patronage.
For instance, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, IVM is one of Nigeria’s leading automakers. Innoson began car assembly in 2007 with car models that run on CNG, electric, and PMS. We also have Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN). Others are leather products, cocoa, textiles and garments, shear butter, and building materials.
Nigerian manufactured goods can also find their way into other African Markets through the opportunity offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
On the Nigeria First Procurement Policy, President Tinubu indeed got it right :
“We must foster a new business culture — bold, confident, and Nigerian. The government must lead by example. We will invest in our people and our industries by changing how we spend, procure, and build. Going forward, the Nigerian industry will take precedence in all procurement…”, the President declared.
