The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a new policy framework known as the Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy, aimed at placing Nigerian manufacturers and service providers at the centre of all federal government procurement processes.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known to State House Correspondents following a council meeting held on Monday and presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Idris explained that the policy, which will soon be formalised through an executive order, is designed to ensure Nigeria takes precedence in economic decision-making, particularly in the areas of trade, procurement, and industrial development.
“The President has proposed that we will no longer sit idly by and allow indiscriminate importation of goods that can be produced locally,” the Minister said. “This policy means Nigeria must come first in all procurement processes. No foreign goods or devices that are already being produced within the country will be acquired without a clearly justified reason.”
He disclosed that the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has been directed to immediately revise its procurement guidelines to give priority to locally made goods and indigenous solutions. As part of the directive, the BPP is to create a Local Content Compliance Framework for all government procurements and maintain a register of high-quality Nigerian manufacturers and service providers regularly engaged by the federal government.
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In addition, procurement officers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will now operate under the revised framework. Any breach of the Nigeria First guidelines will attract penalties, including cancellation of contracts and other sanctions.
Idris noted that the policy is a strategic step towards revitalising local industries, creating jobs, and reducing Nigeria’s dependency on imports.
“The Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy is about bold leadership and investing in our people,” he said. “It will strengthen our local industries and build an economy that can withstand global shocks.”
The Minister further cited that in line with this new direction, quota allocations under the Sugar Master Plan will now be tied to companies’ investment and backward integration efforts in Nigeria.
The Attorney-General of the Federation has been tasked with preparing the necessary legal instruments to give the policy full executive backing.
“To the Attorney-General of the Federation, prepare an Executive Order to give full legal effect to the resolutions of the Federal Executive Council. What this seeks to do is domesticate our processes,” Idris stated.
The move is seen as part of President Tinubu’s broader economic agenda to promote industrialisation, encourage local production, and foster economic self-reliance.
“Let this day mark the beginning of a new era of local enterprise, self-belief, and national pride,” the Minister concluded.
