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…asks manufacturers to prioritise quality, standards
The federal government has outlined a six-point plan with timelines to implement the “Nigeria First” policy, which aims to promote local industries and economic growth.
The plan includes key initiatives. These are: prioritising local production in federal procurement, establishing a quarterly compliance dashboard starting in the first quarter of 2026, driving quality and trust at the point of sale, and providing long-term finance for manufacturers.
Others are; energy and logistics with dedicated power for industrial clusters, people, skills and safety with the Industrial Training Fund Production Grid Skills 2026 focus on manufacturing vacancy lists and safer commerce supply chains.
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President Bola Tinubu made this known yesterday at the 5th Adeola Odutola Lecture and the 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and themed ‘Nigeria First: Prioritising Patronage of Made-in-Nigeria,’ in Lagos.
The President, who was represented by John Enoh, minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, described the Nigeria first policy as a clear decision to use public funding, procurement, and partnership to shift demand towards locally-made goods that meet globally competitive standards while lowering the structural cost of production so that manufacturers can compete both at home and abroad.
According to him, the first policy sits alongside the newly-validated Nigerian industrial policy, developed with extensive input from industry, including mining.
He noted that Nigeria will now move from validation and unveiling to sequenced implementation of the Nigeria First policy with transparent milestones.
Quoting data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the President said that the industrial sector grew 7.45 percent and manufacturing grew 1.6 percent, contributing 7.81 percent to GDP, noting that this is progress but not yet a mission accomplished.
“These are tangible foundations on which Nigeria First must now scale, through demand that is predictable, standards that are trusted, finance that is patient, energy that is reliable, and trade rules that reward value addition at home,” he said.
“I will now set out six practical commitments with clear owners and timelines on what Nigeria First means,” the President noted.
Tinubu urged manufacturers to ensure quality without compromise and should prioritise R&D, standards and process discipline, noting that e-MANCAP is an asset and not a hurdle.
He also called on them to source locally where competitive and to collaborate on phased localization where not feasible yet.
“MAN will be expected to share accurate capacity and price data with the Federal Ministry of Industry and Investment and review for public procurements to aid procurement planning.”
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“MAN will also be expected to partner with FIRO and SMEDAN to mentor MSME suppliers.”
He urged citizens to expect greater visibility of Made in Nigeria products in public procurement and key sectors, better value and safety through standards enforcement and product untilisation.
“More local jobs as firms expand lines, localise inputs and group distribution networks,” he said.
Francis Meshioye, president of MAN, in his welcome speech, said manufacturers are eager to see the Nigeria First policy fully legislated and implemented.
“We strongly believe this policy holds the potential to significantly boost the fortune of the manufacturing sector and improve the well-being of the Nigerian citizenry,” he said.
