President Bola Tinubu on Monday, announced a sweeping ban on the procurement of foreign goods and services by government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Tinubu placed the ban as he unveiled a bold new ‘Nigeria First Policy’ during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
The policy, according to the President, signals the start of a new era centred on local content, economic nationalism, and industrial revitalisation.
He declared that the federal government would now prioritise Nigerian-made goods and homegrown solutions in all public procurement processes.
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“This policy beckons a new era of local content enterprise, self-belief, and national pride,” Tinubu said.
“We will make what we use and use what we make — not as a slogan, but as a national commitment.”
The President directed the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to immediately revise and enforce procurement guidelines that prioritise local content.
The BPP must also develop a Local Content Compliance Framework and maintain a register of high-quality Nigerian manufacturers and service providers frequently engaged by the federal government.
He further ordered that procurement officers be deployed by the BPP to MDAs to ensure strict compliance, without compromising efficiency.
Under the new directive, MDAs are prohibited from procuring foreign goods or services already available locally, unless they obtain a written waiver from the BPP.
Contracts for unavailable local options must now include provisions for technology transfer, local production, or skills development.
All MDAs have been ordered to audit their procurement plans and submit revised versions in accordance with the new directive.
Breaches will attract sanctions, including the cancellation of procurement and disciplinary measures against responsible officers.
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Tinubu highlighted the progress made by his administration in economic reform, citing rising reserves, increased oil output, renewed investor confidence, and multi-billion-dollar commitments from global firms such as Shell, Total, ExxonMobil, and SALIC.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to agricultural development, referencing the National Sugar Master Plan II launched in 2024.
The plan, he said, aims to increase domestic sugar production and reduce reliance on imports through strict backward integration.
Despite these reforms, Tinubu acknowledged that the private sector had yet to fully embrace the opportunities his administration had created.
He blamed a legacy system that prioritised deal-making over real investment.
“Public funds should not enrich intermediaries who export value instead of creating it,” he said. “We must foster a new business culture — bold, confident, and Nigerian.”
