In a major effort to stimulate domestic manufacturing, the Nigerian Government has enforced a strict framework requiring all ministries, departments, and extra-ministerial agencies (MDAs) to source operational and project vehicles solely from accredited domestic assembly plants.
The initiative, executing the “Nigeria First Policy” introduced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, seeks to curb foreign exchange drainage, reverse decades of dependence on imported automobiles, and retain high-value technical jobs within the nation’s borders
The mandate was highlighted during a joint media conference in Abuja held by the leadership of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) alongside the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
NADDC Director-General Joseph Osanipin explained that decades of relying on foreign automotive imports have severely eroded external monetary reserves while stifling the growth of indigenous manufacturing hubs. Under the new guidelines, public institutions are prohibited from acquiring foreign-assembled automobiles unless they present explicit proof that no local equivalent exists and secure direct presidential authorization.
To ensure compliance, the government warned that procurement officers and accounting heads across public institutions will face severe administrative and legal sanctions for failing to abide by the directive.
Furthermore, the Bureau of Public Procurement affirmed that automotive enterprises seeking government contracts must undergo rigorous due diligence checks, meet strict quality standards, and be fully registered on national procurement databases, thereby ensuring transparency and fair market competition among domestic builders.
Anticipating a surge in public sector orders, regulators called on licensed vehicle manufacturers and authorized original equipment retailers across the country to expand production capacities and maintain high quality.
Industry stakeholders expressed optimism that enforcing exclusive domestic patronage will not only revitalize industrial clusters and boost tax revenues but also fast-track the adoption of locally assembled electric and alternative-energy vehicles across public fleets.
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