As part of efforts by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to create more jobs and revive the economy, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) on Friday, May 22, 2026, signed off on the full implementation of the Nigeria First Policy in the automotive sector by all procuring entities.
The signing of the policy now makes it an offence for government agencies to procure vehicles from any source other than local manufacturers, including vehicle assembly plants operating in Nigeria.
While commending President Tinubu for insisting on the full implementation of the policy, the Director-General of the BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, noted that the initiative would further empower Nigeria and Nigerians. He added that only Nigerians can truly grow and develop the country through deliberate efforts such as this.
He also said that for too long, Nigeria has been a consumer of foreign-made automotive products, a trend which he noted has limited the country’s economic potential and hindered the growth of the nation’s local assemblers. According to him, the new initiative would not only create more jobs, but would also make the country earn more from Foreign Direct Investment.
The DG further said “Today marks an important step in strengthening the integrity, accountability and developmental impact of public procurement in Nigeria. With the implementation of this policy on the Nigeria First Policy in the Automotive Sector, public procurement is being more deliberately aligned with national economic priorities and with the Federal Government’s commitment to support local production through public expenditure.
“For us at BPP, this is about ensuring value for money, transparency, lawful process and measurable national benefit. Public funds used for vehicle procurement must not only procure assets for government use, but must also support industrial growth, reduce procurement abuse and improve accountability across the system.
“We, therefore, call on all the three tiers of Government, their Accounting Officers, Chief Executives, Tenders Boards, Procurement Planning Committees and Procurement Departments to study the policy carefully and ensure full compliance. BPP will continue to provide the necessary guidance and work closely with NADDC and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation.”
With this, the next step will be the issuance of a Revised Circular by the appropriate government authority.
On his part, the Director General/CEO of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Osanipin, who commended the DG, BPP, for being proactive and for fast-tracking the implementation process, said “Today, under the guidance of the Nigeria First Policy, we are fundamentally shifting that paradigm and the implementation of this policy is not merely about procurement; it is an economic imperative.
“By mandating that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) prioritise vehicles assembled within our borders, we are achieving several critical objectives which include: Strengthening Industrial Capacity: We are moving beyond simple assembly to foster a robust ecosystem that supports functional assembly lines, skilled technical personnel, service centres and the development of local infrastructure.
“The NADDC understands the responsibility that comes with this mandate and we are fully prepared to collaborate with the Bureau of Public
Procurement (BPP) to ensure that the eligibility of assemblers is strictly verified,” he said.
To this end, he called on all Procuring Entities to see the policy not as a regulatory burden, but as a commitment to national development.
e-Signed:
Zira Zakka Nagga
Head of Press and Public Relations (BPP)
May 23, 2026
