Tinubu Unveils “Nigeria First” Policy to Boost Made-in-Nigeria Goods, Create 500,000 Jobs

The Federal Government has announced plans to launch a nationwide campaign to promote Made-in-Nigeria products and services under the “Nigeria First” policy, aimed at revitalising the manufacturing sector and reducing dependence on imports.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, made this known on Thursday in Lagos at the 5th Adeola Odutola Lecture organised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

According to the President, the “Nigeria First” campaign seeks to redirect national demand towards locally made products that meet global quality standards. He noted that early assessments indicate the initiative could grow the manufacturing sector by up to six per cent and generate over 500,000 jobs within the next three years.

Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening domestic production, consumption, and export of Nigerian-made goods.

> “No nation attains prosperity or dignity without producing what it can and exporting what it does best. Our goal is to reduce structural costs and enable our manufacturers to compete effectively both at home and abroad,” he said.

The President further outlined six key policy pillars of the “Nigeria First” agenda: federal procurement reforms, quality and standards enforcement, export expansion, access to finance, energy and logistics, skills development, and input security.

In his remarks, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, represented by Mr. Mansur Ahmed, emphasised that the policy must be structured as a binding national strategy capable of surviving political transitions. He urged the government to legislate the policy, enforce compliance, ensure policy stability, and build a national supplier registry to enhance local competitiveness.

Dangote added that effective consumer engagement, backward integration incentives, improved infrastructure, and better access to finance are vital to the policy’s success, noting that the initiative represents a “bold opportunity to industrialise sustainably.”

On his part, Otunba Francis Meshioye, President of MAN, commended the Federal Government’s commitment to economic transformation through initiatives like the “Nigeria First” policy. He, however, stressed that for the policy to yield tangible results, full legislation and consistent implementation are essential.

Meshioye described the policy as more than an industrial reform, calling it a national economic survival strategy that would create jobs, boost innovation, and save foreign exchange.

> “If we do not intentionally support our own manufacturers, we cannot compete globally. The Nigeria First policy is about resilience, innovation, and national prosperity,” he said.

The Adeola Odutola Lecture and Made-in-Nigeria Exhibition held from October 14 to 16, brought together key stakeholders to discuss the future of Nigerian manufacturing under the new policy framework.