- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has banned the importation of foreign goods into the country.
Tinubu gave the directive at the Presidential Villa on Monday through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
According to Idris, the ban is part of the President’a promotion of his Nigeria First Policy which is aimed at strengthening the domestic economy, promoting local content, and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports.
The new policy tagged the ‘Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy’ also seeks to foster a new business culture that is uniquely Nigerian.
“The Nigeria First Policy places our country at the centre of public procurement and business activity, with a strong focus on empowering local industries.
“It is designed to foster a new business culture that is bold, confident, and uniquely Nigerian,” Idris said.
According to reports, the minister said that the new policy mirrored the U.S. “America First Policy.’’
Idris defended the policy by citing Nigeria’s continued importation of sugar while having a functioning Sugar Council and several domestic producers.
This, according to him, is a prime example of inefficiency the policy seeks to eliminate.
Similarly, the policy also extends to procurement by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Idris warned that all MDAs must review and resubmit their procurement plans in line with the new policy, stressing that breaches would attract disciplinary action and possible cancellation of future procurement processes.
“Government money must now work for the Nigerian people. And contractors will no longer be allowed to act as mere intermediaries importing foreign goods while Nigerian factories remain underutilised” he added.