The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recently announced ‘Nigeria First Policy’, describing it as a bold step towards accelerating Nigeria’s industrial revolution and economic growth.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, commended the policy’s prioritization of locally made goods and indigenous solutions in government procurement.
He expressed optimism that the directive would empower local entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and technology innovators by giving them the necessary support to thrive.
The NITDA boss stated: “With Mr. President’s directive to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to revise and enforce guidelines in favor of local suppliers, we anticipate a significant increase in patronage of Nigerian-made products.
“Government is a major buyer of goods and services, and this move will translate into increased demand across key sectors”, he stressed.
Describing the policy as “forward-thinking and revolutionary”, Halilu recalled that NASENI had long championed local content through its own initiatives, including products developed by the agency, which ranged from Nigerian-assembled vehicles and energy systems to smart irrigation tools and electronic devices, as evidence of the quality and competitiveness of local manufacturing.
He further cited the NASENI’s ongoing Made-in-Nigeria Strategic Focus Group’s meetings being held by experts, regulators, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and civil society actors to identify challenges and promote solutions for increasing local patronage in the country, aimed at driving awareness and understanding of consumer attitudes toward local products.
Halilu explained: “We are determined to be at the forefront of implementing the President’s vision. But this is also a call to action for local producers. It is not enough to enjoy policy support, quality and standards must never be compromised. We must deliver products that compete favourably with imports and meet the needs of Nigerian consumers.”
On the President’s ‘Nigeria First Policy’, which directs the BPP to implement procurement reforms that prioritize local content and maintain a register of qualified Nigerian manufacturers and service providers, he reaffirmed NASENI’s readiness to lead the change, adding that “we have seen the capacity and competence of our local manufacturers. They are ready. With the right support, we can achieve true industrialization powered by Nigerian solutions.”
