President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a new economic policy called the Renewed Hope Nigeria First initiative, mandating that all federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) prioritize Nigerian-made goods, services, and expertise in government spending.
Announcing the decision after the Federal Executive Council meeting, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris described the move as a bold and strategic shift in Nigeria’s economic approach, mirroring U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.
“This policy seeks to foster a new business culture that is bold, confident, and very Nigerian,” said Idris. “It aims to make government investment directly benefit our people and industries by changing how we spend, how we procure, and how we build our economy.”
To give the policy legal backing, the Attorney General of the Federation has been directed to draft an Executive Order.
As the cornerstone of Tinubu’s economic and industrialization agenda, the Nigeria First policy is designed to empower local industries and reduce reliance on foreign imports.
Key directives under the policy include:
- The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) must revise and enforce rules that prioritize Nigerian-made goods and local solutions across all MDAs.
- A comprehensive compliance mechanism will be created to ensure adherence to local content requirements.
- The BPP will maintain an updated database of verified Nigerian suppliers for all procurement decisions.
- Procurement officers posted to MDAs will be recalled to the BPP to reduce corruption and enforce compliance.
- No MDA may procure foreign goods or services already available in Nigeria without a written waiver from the BPP.
- Where foreign contracts are essential, they must include clauses for technology transfer, local production, or skills development.
- All MDAs must immediately revise and resubmit their procurement plans to align with the policy. Violations could lead to disciplinary action or cancellation of the procurement process.
The policy marks a significant effort by the Tinubu administration to promote economic self-reliance and position Nigerian industries at the center of national development.
