The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has initiated moves to amend the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007 with a view to strengthening the manufacturing sector in Nigeria.
This is just as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) called on the federal government to learn from the 10-year comprehensive Made-in-China strategic plan made by the Chinese government to grow the country’s domestic content to 70% by 2025.
Speaking the opening ceremony of a 3-day Made in Nigeria Exhibition (MiNE) 2024 as part of the activities of the 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MAN in Lagos yesterday, the Acting Director General of BPP, Olusegun Omotola, asserted that the impact of well-crafted procurement policies on local manufacturing cannot be overstated.
He stated: “BPP, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, is already taking measures to protect and support our manufacturing sector through its proposal for the amendment of the current Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.
“By prioritizing locally manufactured goods, we can: Stimulate economic growth; Create jobs; Encourage innovation; Reduce dependence on imports; and Strengthen our industrial base.”
Omotola noted that Nigeria has already taken significant steps in the right direction, with issuance of Executive Orders 003 and 005 in 2017 to support local content in public procurement.
He however added that there is a need to build upon the initiatives to fully realize the potential of public procurement in boosting local manufacturing.
The BPP boss proposed reform enhancements that will “expand the current 40% to gradually increase over the next five years, with the ultimate goal of reaching 60-70% for key sectors”.
arlier, in his welcome address, President of MAN, Francis Meshioye, said Nigeria should not hesitate to draw meaningful inspiration from countries that have made deliberate efforts to promote their manufacturing to become what they are today.