Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale Adedokun, has expressed delight over the presidential validation accorded the public procurement reforms and the “Nigeria First” Policy in the 2026 budget speech delivered by President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the joint sitting of the National Assembly.
Dr Adedokun said the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, themed the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” marked a historic shift in Nigeria’s fiscal and industrial strategy.
According to him, “For us at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the President’s speech was not just a budget layout; it was a clear mandate to reform the soul of our procurement processes.
“Central to this mandate is the formal establishment of the ‘Nigeria First Policy’. As the President rightly articulated during his address to the Joint Session of the National Assembly.
“Read what the president said concerning our procurement reforms and the “Nigeria First” policy: ‘Starting in November last year, the government has embarked upon a comprehensive framework of procurement reforms. These reforms have enhanced efficiency and generated significant cost savings for the government, resulting in resulting in reduced processing times for Government contracts and better enforcement procedures directed against erring contractors and government officials.
‘Our Nigeria First Policy has been established to encourage self-sufficiency and sustainable growth within Nigeria by promoting domestic products and businesses. By mandating that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) consider Nigerian-made goods and local companies as their primary option, the policy aims to support local industries, create job opportunities, and reduce dependency on imported items’.”
● A strategic pivot towards domestic growth
Dr Adedokun said that “The Bureau of Public Procurement recognises that public spending is one of the most powerful levers for economic transformation. By prioritising local content, we are not merely changing where we buy; we are changing how we build our nation.
“The Nigeria First Policy ensures that the trillions of Naira allocated for infrastructure, education, and health in the 2026 Budget circulate within our borders. When an MDA chooses a Nigerian-made product or a local service provider, the ripple effect is felt in our factories, our tech hubs, and among our small-scale entrepreneurs.
“It is the most direct way to foster innovation and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian enterprises on the global stage.”
● Beyond policy: Enforcement and accountability
Adedokun continued: “At the BPP, we are moving beyond the “vision” to “reality.” Under my leadership, and in direct alignment with the President’s directive for stronger discipline in budget execution, we are implementing a comprehensive framework of procurement reforms.”
These, according to him, included:
“Mandatory Local Preference: Rigorous enforcement of the directive that Nigerian-made goods be the primary option for all MDAs.
“Efficiency and Transparency: Leveraging the “end-to-end digitisation” mentioned by the President to reduce contract processing times and eliminate leakages.
“Strict Compliance: As the President warned, we are increasing enforcement procedures against erring contractors and government officials who bypass local content requirements.”
Conclusion: Delivering Shared Prosperity
Adedokun concluded: “The 2026 Budget is a statement of national priorities. By championing the “Nigeria First” Policy, the BPP is ensuring that public procurement becomes an engine for job creation and sustainable growth.
“As the President stated in his speech, the most significant budget is the one we deliver. At the BPP, we are ready to deliver a procurement system that respects the “Nigeria First” ethos, ensuring that the benefits of our national reform reach every household and community across the Federation.
“Together, through strategic procurement and a commitment to our own industries, we will deliver the full promise of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
e-Signed:
Zira Zakka Nagga
Head of Press and Public Relations
(BPP)
December 23, 2025
