By Uche Onyeali
National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, has welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Nigeria First’ policy, describing it as a bold step toward accelerating Nigeria’s industrial revolution and economic growth.
This was contained in a statement signed and made available to AljazirahNigeria yesterday by the Director of Information, NASENI, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan.
According to the statement, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, in a statement yesterday, commended the policy’s prioritisation of locally made goods and indigenous solutions in government procurement.
He said the directive would empower local entrepreneurs, manufacturers and technology innovators by giving them the necessary support to thrive.
“With Mr President’s directive to the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, to revise and enforce guidelines in favor of local suppliers, we anticipate a significant increase in the patronage of Nigerian-made products.
“Government is a major buyer of goods and services, and this move will translate into increased demand across key sectors,” Mr Halilu said.
Describing the policy as “forward-thinking and revolutionary,” Halilu noted that NASENI had long championed local content through its own initiatives.
He highlighted the products developed by the agency, ranging from Nigerian-assembled vehicles and energy systems to smart irrigation tools and electronic devices, as evidence of the quality and competitiveness of local manufacturing.
Halilu referenced NASENI’s ongoing Made-in-Nigeria Strategic Focus Group meetings held across the country, aimed at driving awareness and understanding of consumer attitudes towards local products.
He said the fora brought together, experts, regulators, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and civil society actors to identify challenges and promote solutions for increasing local patronage.
“We are determined to be at the forefront of implementing the president’s vision, but this is also a call to action for local producers. It is not enough to enjoy policy support, quality and standards must never be compromised. We must deliver products that compete favourably with imports and meet the needs of consumers,” the NASENI boss added.
NASENI, mandated to develop Nigeria’s science and engineering infrastructure, has been engaging stakeholders across states including Katsina, Lagos, Anambra, Delta, Kano, Kaduna, and Ogun to boost innovation, address manufacturing challenges and encourage the adoption of homegrown solutions.
President Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy directs BPP to implement procurement reforms that prioritise local content and maintain a register of qualified Nigerian manufacturers and service providers.
Halilu concluded by affirming NASENI’s readiness to lead the charge.
“We have seen the capacity and competence of our local manufacturers. They are ready. With the right support, we can achieve true industrialisation powered by Nigerian solutions,” Halilu noted.
