In an effort to boost Nigeria’s manufacturing industry, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has started to revise the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.

At the same time, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) urged the federal government to take note of the Chinese government’s 10-year comprehensive Made-in-China strategic plan, which aims to increase the nation’s local content to 70% by 2025.

The Acting Director General of BPP, Olusegun Omotola, stated during the opening ceremony of the 3-day Made in Nigeria Exhibition (MiNE) 2024, which was held yesterday in Lagos as part of the 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MAN, that it is impossible to overestimate the influence of carefully thought-out procurement policies on domestic manufacturing.

“BPP is already taking steps to protect and support our manufacturing sector through its proposal for the amendment of the current Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007 in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

“We can: Promote innovation; Create jobs; Encourage economic growth; Reduce reliance on imports; and Strengthen our industrial base by giving preference to locally manufactured goods.”

Omotola pointed out that by issuing Executive Orders 003 and 005 in 2017 to encourage local content in public procurement, Nigeria had already made great progress in the right way.

He did, however, add that in order to fully realise the potential of public procurement in promoting local manufacturing, the efforts must be expanded.

In order to “expand the current 40% to gradually increase over the next five years, with the ultimate goal of reaching 60-70% for key sectors,” the BPP chief suggested reform improvements.

Francis Meshioye, the president of MAN, had earlier stated in his welcoming speech that Nigeria should not be afraid to take significant inspiration from nations that have consciously worked to advance their manufacturing to reach their current status.