By Kolawole Ojebisi
President Bola Tinubu has approved a nationalist policy that mirrors his America counterpart, Donald Trump’s, ‘American First’ doctrine.
Tagged Renewed Hope ‘Nigeria First’ policy, the scheme mandates all federal ministries, departments and agencies to give absolute priority to Nigerian goods, services and know‑how when spending public funds.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Highlighting the crux of the policy, Idris stressed that the move “puts Nigeria at the centre of every kobo the government spends,”
He noted that an Executive Order to give it full legal force will be issued within days.
Idris also added that policy mirrors US President Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine.
The minister emphasized the significance of the policy by stressing that it places Nigeria at the centre of all public procurement and business activity,
He noted that the ultimate goal is to empower local industries and reducing dependency on imports.
“Going forward, any business to be done by the government must place Nigerians first.
“If a local option exists, there is no reason whatsoever to import.
“Council has endorsed the President’s proposals, and the Attorney‑General has been directed to draft the Executive Order that will ‘make government invest in our people and our industries by changing how we spend, procure and build the economy,’” he explained.
“Under the new rules, the Bureau of Public Procurement has been directed to revise and enforce new guidelines to favour local manufacturers and service providers.
“It will create a Local Content Compliance Framework, maintain a register of high‑quality Nigerian suppliers regularly engaged by government, and once again assume full authority over the deployment of procurement officers to every MDA.
“All MDAs, in turn, are barred from buying any foreign good or service that is “already available locally” unless the BPP issues a written waiver.
“Where no viable Nigerian option exists, contracts must contain clauses for technology transfer, local production, or skills development, mirroring quota rules in the Sugar Master Plan that reward firms investing in backwards integration.” Idris said.
Also, MDAs were given an immediate deadline to audit their 2025 procurement plan and file a revised version that complies with the new standard.
“No procurement of foreign goods or services already available in Nigeria shall proceed without justification and a BPP waiver,” the directive stated.
“Where no local option exists, contracts must include provisions for technology transfer, local production or skills development,” it adds.
Idris explained that the Attorney‑General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has been tasked with drafting an Executive Order that will embed the FEC resolutions in law.
