In a significant stride towards boosting the “Nigeria First” policy, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday, July 28, 2025.
This landmark collaboration aims to put Nigerian-made goods, services, and local content at the forefront of government procurements, marking a crucial step towards economic growth and lessening the nation’s reliance on imports.
The “Nigeria First” policy, a key component of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is all about encouraging local production and consumption. It’s designed to champion Nigerian businesses and foster economic development. By prioritizing local content, this initiative looks to create jobs, stimulate economic activity, and ultimately, make Nigeria more competitive on the global stage.
Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, highlighted how impactful this MoU will be. He believes this partnership with BPP will tackle 80% of the challenges they face when engaging with investors and foreign partners, effectively transforming Nigeria from a “dumping ground” for foreign goods into a nation that promotes its own products.
Halilu stressed NASENI’s pivot from simply creating prototypes to commercializing its technologies and products, showcasing over 50 market-ready Nigerian-branded items. He also pointed out that NASENI’s recent collaborations, including those with China, have already brought in over $2 billion for the country. NASENI is currently developing Nigeria’s largest renewable energy park in Nasarawa and is working with Abuja Technology Village to supercharge technology transfer, local manufacturing, and the promotion of Nigerian brands.
Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the BPP, emphasized that the MoU is a vital link between what’s produced and what’s procured. He stated that this agreement will actively prioritize NASENI’s innovations – everything from tractors and tablets to surveillance drones and solar backup systems – in the procurement plans of government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
A major outcome of this MoU is the integration of NASENI’s product catalog into the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO). Dr. Adedokun urged other MDAs to follow suit, clarifying that this isn’t about protectionism, but rather an act of patriotism aimed at fast-tracking Nigeria’s industrial revolution. He showcased NOCOPO’s success, noting over N173 billion, $155 million, and €1.7 million in savings between January and June of this year, thanks to improved price intelligence.
Dr. Adedokun also confirmed that NASENI’s products are certified by national institutions like SON and NAFDAC, guaranteeing their quality. He assured that the BPP is committed to backing this initiative with concrete reforms, including revised procurement thresholds of N5 billion for goods and N10 billion for works.
This will allow MDAs to act quicker while strengthening post-review and audit mechanisms. The BPP’s role, he underlined, is to ensure that high-quality local products gain access to procurement opportunities, encouraging MDAs to look within Nigeria for their needs.