In a bold and transformative move that could redefine Nigeria’s economic future, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a sweeping ban on the importation of foreign goods that can be produced locally—signaling the beginning of a historic shift from dependency to self-reliance.
Announced after Monday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the directive is the cornerstone of a new policy dubbed the Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy.
At its heart lies one message: Nigeria will no longer outsource its growth.
“This is not just a procurement policy—it’s an economic revolution,” declared Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation. “We are taking back control of our economy, our jobs, and our industrial destiny.”
For decades, local factories sat idle while billions were spent importing goods—from sugar to furniture, cables to clothing. That era, the President made clear, is over.
Under the new framework, no government agency will be allowed to purchase foreign goods or services already available in Nigeria without a written waiver from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), all MDAs are required to resubmit procurement plans to reflect the new local-first mandate and expatriate workers will only be allowed on government contracts where Nigerian professionals cannot be found—and even then, only with strict approval.
In addition a national supplier database of certified Nigerian manufacturers will guide all public spending.
The move mirrors global economic protectionist strategies like Donald Trump’s “America First,” but with a distinctly Nigerian mission—to reawaken dormant industries, empower local entrepreneurs, and rebuild national pride.
“Government money must now work for the Nigerian people,” Idris affirmed. “Contractors will no longer serve as foreign middlemen while Nigerian factories rust.”
Already, the President has instructed the Attorney General to prepare an Executive Order to enshrine the policy in law—one that will fundamentally reshape how Nigeria spends, produces, and grows.
Critics warn of teething challenges—from capacity gaps to resistance by entrenched procurement interests—but the administration is unwavering.
“This is about more than policy. It’s about who we are and where we’re going,” Idris said. “We are building a Nigeria that believes in itself.”
As oil revenues decline and global dynamics shift, President Tinubu’s administration is betting on one thing to power the country forward: Nigerians.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
