Abuja, May 5, 2025 – The federal government has placed a ban on importation of foreign goods that can be produced locally.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, announced this development on Monday while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
He said the ban was aimed at strengthening the Nigerian economy and promote local content development.
The minister said the FEC also approved a caveat on expatriates coming into Nigeria to execute jobs that local contractors and artisans could do.
He said a new policy framework tagged the Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy had also been approved to foster a new business culture that is bold, confident, and very Nigerian.
“It aims at making government investment directly benefit our people and industries by changing how we spend, how we procure, and how we build our economy,” he said.
The minister said the Attorney General of the Federation had been directed to draft an Executive Order to give full legal effect to the new framework.
He said the Nigeria First policy would become the cornerstone of Tinubu’s economic strategy as the government pushes forward with its industrialisation agenda and import-substitution goals.
Idris said the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had been directed to revise and enforce procurement rules to prioritise Nigerian-made goods and homegrown solutions in all the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
He said the BPP had also been directed to create a comprehensive compliance mechanism to ensure all government procurements adhered to local content requirements.
Idris said the MDAs would no longer be allowed to procure foreign goods or services already available locally without a written waiver from the BPP.
“All MDAs are to immediately review and resubmit their procurement plans to align with the new policy directives.
“Breaches will result in disciplinary action and possible cancellation of the procurement process,” he noted.
“This is a major shift in government policy. It puts Nigeria – not foreign companies, not imports – at the heart of our national development,” the minister said.
He said the new policy would take effect immediately the Executive Order is signed by the president.
