The Federal Government is set to launch a nationwide campaign to promote locally made goods and services under the “Nigeria First” policy, as part of efforts to stimulate industrial growth and reduce dependence on imports.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu disclosed this in Lagos during the fifth Adeola Odutola Lecture of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), where he was represented by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh.
According to the President, the campaign is designed to reorient national consumption patterns toward products manufactured in Nigeria that meet international standards. He noted that early assessments indicate the initiative could raise manufacturing output by up to six percent and create more than 500,000 jobs within three years.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to advancing the manufacturing sector through deliberate policies that encourage production, consumption, and export of Nigerian-made products.
“No country attains prosperity without producing what it consumes and exporting competitively what it produces best. The economics of resilience begins in the factory and thrives in the marketplace. Our government is committed to cutting structural costs and empowering local manufacturers to compete globally,” he said.
The President outlined six policy pillars underpinning the “Nigeria First” strategy:
- Federal procurement reforms
- Quality and standards enforcement
- Export expansion
- Access to finance
- Energy and logistics improvement
- Skills development and input security
He further urged manufacturers to uphold transparency and product quality while collaborating with government agencies to provide accurate production data to guide policy decisions.
Representing Dangote Group President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, former MAN President Mr. Mansur Ahmed outlined manufacturers’ key expectations from the “Nigeria First” policy.
Dangote emphasised that for the policy to succeed, it must evolve into a binding national framework for industrial development — one that can withstand political transitions and market fluctuations.
He listed manufacturers’ eight major demands, including enacting the policy into law, ensuring policy stability, developing a national supplier registry, encouraging consumer patriotism, promoting backward integration, and addressing infrastructure and energy gaps.
He also called for improved access to finance to enhance local supplier capacity and greater utilisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to strengthen Nigeria’s export competitiveness.
“The Nigeria First Policy is a bold opportunity to drive sustainable industrialisation. Its success depends on clear legislation, institutional enforcement, stable implementation, and alignment between government and industry. It must translate from declarations to measurable outcomes that prioritise local value creation,” Dangote said.
MAN President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, commended the Federal Government for its reform efforts, describing the Nigeria First policy as a potential game-changer for the industrial sector and national economy.
He, however, noted that manufacturers continue to grapple with harsh operating conditions shaped by global disruptions and domestic economic headwinds.
“The Nigeria First policy is not just an industrial strategy; it is a national imperative for economic survival,” Meshioye asserted.
