Nigeria First policy launches to promote local goods, create 500,000 jobs, and reduce import dependence through structured national manufacturing reforms

Nigeria First policy is at the heart of a new national push to revive Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, reduce reliance on imports, and create half a million jobs within three years, according to President Bola Tinubu.

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Speaking in Lagos at the 5th Adeola Odutola Lecture of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Tinubu—represented by Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh—unveiled a federal campaign to promote Made-in-Nigeria goods and services as part of the Nigeria First policy strategy.

The campaign aims to recalibrate national demand in favour of locally manufactured products that meet global standards.

According to the President, preliminary studies project a 6% boost to the manufacturing sector, alongside the creation of over 500,000 new jobs if the campaign is successfully implemented.

“No country achieves prosperity without producing and exporting competitively,” Tinubu stated. “We are committed to reducing structural costs and enabling our manufacturers to thrive both locally and internationally.”

The Nigeria First policy is anchored on six core areas: reforming federal procurement, enforcing product standards, expanding exports, improving access to finance, resolving energy and logistics constraints, and enhancing skills and input security.

Addressing the gathering, Alhaji Aliko Dangote—represented by former MAN President, Mansur Ahmed—called for the policy to be legally codified.

He warned that without legislation and enforcement mechanisms, its impact may falter. “We need a durable national strategy for industrial development that can survive political cycles and market turbulence,” he stressed.

Dangote outlined eight key expectations from the private sector’s standpoint, including long-term policy consistency, a national supplier registry, consumer engagement, infrastructure investment, and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area for regional competitiveness.

Also speaking at the event, MAN President Otunba Francis Meshioye described the policy as vital for national economic survival.

“This is not just industrial ambition—it is a matter of survival. Without deliberate support, our manufacturers cannot compete,” he said.

Meshioye emphasised that Nigeria First policy must be backed by enforceable legislation to protect the sector from domestic and global economic shocks.

“It’s about creating jobs, saving foreign exchange, and driving innovation. The time for action is now,” he concluded.

The 5th Adeola Odutola Lecture and Made-in-Nigeria Exhibition, held from October 14 to 16, served as a rallying point for policymakers and industry leaders to align on a shared vision of industrial resilience and national self-reliance.

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As Nigeria confronts persistent economic headwinds, the Nigeria First policy could become a cornerstone for transformative growth—provided it is implemented with discipline, data, and clear accountability.