President Bola Tinubu has initiated a new directive restricting all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from purchasing foreign goods or services that can be sourced locally, unless they secure a written waiver from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The directive follows the approval of a new policy framework by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), aimed at prioritizing local content in all government transactions. The policy seeks to place Nigeria at the center of public procurement processes, strongly focusing on promoting domestic industries and reducing dependence on imports.
This new policy is part of the newly approved Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy, a strategic move to boost local production, strengthen the domestic economy, and promote Nigerian-made products.
The disclosure was made at the end of the fifth Federal Executive Council meeting of 2025, which was presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the new policy is to ensure that the country promotes home-grown products.
The Minister described the policy as a bold shift in the country’s economic approach likening it to the U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine.
He added, “This policy seeks to foster a new business culture that is bold, confident, and very Nigerian. It aims to make government investment directly benefit our people and industries by changing how we spend, procure, and build our economy.”
Idris disclosed that the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, has been directed to draft an Executive Order to give full legal effect to the new framework.
He further stated that “The Nigeria First policy is expected to become the cornerstone of the administration’s economic strategy, especially as the government pushes forward with its industrialization agenda and import-substitution goals.”
He outlined key decisions approved by the Council, set for immediate implementation. Under the new directive, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP is to revise and enforce procurement rules that prioritize Nigerian-made goods and homegrown solutions across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
A comprehensive compliance mechanism will be established to enforce adherence to local content requirements, while a regularly updated database of verified Nigerian suppliers will guide procurement decisions. Procurement officers currently deployed to various MDAs will be reverted to the BPP to ensure compliance and reduce undue influence or corruption.
Idris emphasized that no MDA will be permitted to procure foreign goods or services already available locally without obtaining a written waiver from the BPP. In cases where foreign contracts are unavoidable, they must include clear provisions for technology transfer, local production, or capacity development in Nigeria.
All MDAs are to immediately review and resubmit their procurement plans to align with the new policy directives. Breaches will result in disciplinary action and possible cancellation of the procurement process.
The minister pointed to Nigeria’s sugar industry as a clear example of neglected local capacity, noting that despite the existence of the Nigerian Sugar Council and several local producers, the country continues to import sugar.
This policy will change that,” he said. He stressed that going forward, “Contractors will no longer be mere intermediaries sourcing foreign goods while Nigerian factories lie idle. Government money must now work for the Nigerian people.
By making local content central to government spending, the administration aims to stimulate job creation, industrial growth, and promote long-term economic development.
Though officials acknowledge the policy may encounter implementation challenges and resistance from entrenched procurement interests, they insist the government is committed to enforce compliance at all levels.
The minister emphasized that this policy marks a significant shift in government strategy, placing Nigeria at the forefront of national development, rather than prioritizing foreign companies or imports.
