Nigeria First policy aims to boost local manufacturing, create 500,000 jobs, and reduce import dependence through quality-focused national campaign
Nigeria First policy will anchor a national campaign to promote Made-in-Nigeria goods and services, President Bola Tinubu announced on Thursday, signalling a renewed commitment to revitalising the country’s struggling manufacturing sector.
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Speaking through the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, at the fifth Adeola Odutola lecture hosted by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Lagos, Tinubu revealed that the campaign will focus on shifting national demand towards locally made products that meet international standards.
Preliminary projections, he said, indicate the in
itiative could boost manufacturing growth by up to six per cent and generate over 500,000 jobs in three years.
“No country achieves prosperity or dignity without producing what it can and exporting at scale what it does best,” the President stated. “Resilience begins in the factory and thrives in the marketplace.”
Under the Nigeria First policy, the government has pledged to address structural challenges facing manufacturers through six strategic pillars: public procurement reforms, export expansion, input security, energy and logistics improvements, access to finance, and human capital development.
The goal is to support production, increase consumption of Nigerian products, and facilitate exports — all while reducing reliance on imports.
Tinubu called on manufacturers to maintain transparency and quality in their operations, urging them to provide accurate data to aid policy development.
Representing Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the former MAN president Mr Mansur Ahmed said the private sector had eight key expectations for the Nigeria First policy to truly succeed.
Chief among them was the call to legislate the policy as binding law, enforce compliance, and insulate it from political or market fluctuations.
He also stressed the importance of a national supplier registry, a cultural shift toward patronising local products, and improvements in infrastructure and energy supply.
“The Nigeria First Policy represents a bold opportunity to industrialise sustainably,” said Ahmed. “Its success depends on strong legislation, stable implementation, and deep alignment across sectors.”
President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, welcomed the policy direction, describing it as critical for the future of Nigerian manufacturing.
However, he cautioned that the sector still faces significant domestic and global challenges, including inflation, infrastructure deficits, and inconsistent policy environments.
“This is not just about industrial ambition — it’s about economic survival,” Meshioye said. “Without deliberate support for local manufacturers, Nigeria cannot compete on the global stage.”
He called for urgent legislative backing and immediate execution, insisting that the time for policy declarations must give way to measurable outcomes.
Also read: Nigeria First Policy Spurs Campaign for Local Patronage
As Nigeria seeks to recalibrate its economy, the Nigeria First policy stands as a defining test of the country’s will to industrialise, create jobs, and secure long-term prosperity through self-reliance.
