The Federal Executive Council has endorsed a new economic directive that will compel government ministries and agencies to prioritise locally produced goods and services in all procurement activities.
The initiative, tagged the ‘Nigeria First’ policy, is targeted at making the government invest in our people and our industries.
Speaking after the council meeting in Abuja, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the move is designed to limit reliance on imported goods, especially when alternatives are available locally. He noted that an executive order would soon be issued to formalise the policy.
“No foreign goods or devices that are already being produced locally will be procured without a clear and justified reason,” Idris stated during a post-FEC media briefing on Monday.
He explained that the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has been ordered to update procurement guidelines to reflect the new direction, including the development of a local content compliance framework. The BPP is also expected to maintain a register of verified Nigerian suppliers regularly engaged in federal contracts.
“Where local supply falls short, contracts will be structured to build capacity domestically,” the minister added. “Contractors will no longer serve as intermediaries sourcing foreign goods where local factories die.”
Idris said the measure aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of accelerating industrial growth and shielding the economy from global shocks by supporting Nigerian businesses.
Procurement officers currently assigned to ministries, departments, and agencies will now report directly to the BPP to centralise oversight and ensure better enforcement.
