In a bold move to spur industrialization and protect domestic production, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a sweeping 'Nigeria First' Procurement Policy, prioritizing local manufacturers in all government contracts.
Speaking after the FEC meeting on Monday in Abuja, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced that an executive order will soon formalize the policy. The directive mandates that no foreign goods or services—if locally available—will be procured by the government without strong justification.
“This is about more than procurement—it’s about national economic identity,” Idris said. “We’re cultivating a bold, confident, Nigerian-first business culture that prioritizes our people and industries.”
Under the new rules, where local capacity is insufficient, contracts must be structured to build local capabilities, effectively ending the era of contractors acting merely as middlemen for imported goods. The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has been directed to revise and enforce updated guidelines to reflect this shift.
The policy aligns with President Tinubu’s agenda to drive industrial growth, create jobs, and insulate Nigeria’s economy from global disruptions, particularly in key sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and agriculture.