The Federal Government has announced plans to launch a national campaign under the Nigeria First policy to promote Made-in-Nigeria goods and services as part of efforts to revitalise the country’s manufacturing sector.
President Bola Tinubu disclosed this in Lagos at the fifth Adeola Odutola Lecture organised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. He was represented at the event by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh.
According to the President, the campaign seeks to redirect national demand towards Nigerian-made products that meet international quality standards while addressing the nation’s dependency on imported goods. He explained that the Nigeria First campaign would not only boost domestic manufacturing but also help in creating more jobs and improving economic stability.
Tinubu stated that preliminary studies had shown that the policy could boost Nigeria’s manufacturing output by as much as six per cent and generate over 500,000 new jobs within three years. He added that his administration would continue to support initiatives that promote local production, domestic consumption, and the export of Made-in-Nigeria goods.
“No country achieves prosperity or dignity without producing what it can and exporting at scale what it does best,” Tinubu said. “Economics of resilience begins in the factory and thrives in the marketplace, and we are committed to reducing structural costs and enabling our manufacturers to compete effectively both at home and abroad.”
The President outlined six key policy commitments under the Nigeria First strategy. These include reforms in federal procurement, strict quality and standards enforcement, export expansion, improved access to finance, better energy and logistics systems, skills development, and input security for local industries.
He urged members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to maintain high quality standards and transparency in production processes. He also encouraged them to collaborate with government agencies by sharing accurate data on capacity and pricing to guide effective industrial policy planning.
The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, represented by Mr Mansur Ahmed, former President of MAN, said manufacturers had outlined eight key expectations from the Nigeria First policy.
Dangote emphasised that for the policy to succeed, it must be structured as a durable and binding national strategy that could withstand both political changes and economic pressures. He stated that the Nigeria First policy must be built on global best practices while being aligned with Nigeria’s unique industrial realities.
He listed the expectations to include legislating the policy as binding law with clear punitive measures for non-compliance, ensuring policy stability and consistency, and maintaining long-term commitment from all stakeholders.
Other expectations include establishing a national supplier registry, encouraging consumer engagement and cultural reorientation towards locally made products, incentivising backward integration, and addressing infrastructure and energy challenges.
Dangote also called for stronger access to finance for local manufacturers to expand capacity, build reliable supply chains, and take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for regional exports.
“The Nigeria First Policy represents a bold opportunity to industrialise sustainably,” he said. “Its success depends on clear legislation, institutional enforcement, stable policy implementation, and strong alignment across government agencies and industry.
“To transform the economy, the Nigeria First Policy must move beyond declarations into actionable, measurable outcomes that prioritise local value creation and national prosperity. Every nation is in a race to improve the living conditions of its citizens and we must realise that we are in this race, and it is a very competitive race. The government has done a few things that have given us a fighting chance. The Nigeria First policy, if embraced, will place us in a very competitive position.”
The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Otunba Francis Meshioye, commended the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the economy through strategic policy reforms, including the Nigeria First initiative.
He noted that the proper legislation and implementation of the policy could significantly enhance the performance of the manufacturing sector and improve the overall well-being of Nigerians.
Meshioye, however, highlighted the current challenges confronting manufacturers in the country, citing global economic headwinds and domestic policy constraints as major hurdles. He explained that the Nigeria First policy was not just an economic target but a vital step toward national survival.
“If we do not intentionally support our own manufacturers, we will not be able to compete globally,” Meshioye said. “MAN believe that the Nigeria First policy is about building national resilience, creating jobs at home, saving foreign exchange, driving technological innovation, and giving Nigeria the productive foundation it needs to be competitive globally.
“To this end, effective legislation and implementation is key and must be carried out without any prevarication.”
Nigeriastartupact.ng reports that the Nigeria First policy aligns with the government’s broader economic diversification agenda and is expected to strengthen the country’s manufacturing base, improve local production, and reduce dependence on imported goods.