Business
FG Announces New Procurement Policy Shift Favouring Local Manufacturing
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a “Nigeria First Policy” aimed at prioritising the use of locally made goods and services in all government procurements.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, made the disclosure saying that the policy seeks to domesticate all government processes.
The Nigerian government expects that with the new policy, local manufacturers will get priority in the provision of goods and services.
“No procurement of foreign goods or services already available locally shall proceed without justification, and where there is an exceptional need for these services to procure from outside, there must be a waiver to be obtained, written waiver to be obtained by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP),” Mr Idris said.
“Where no viable local option exists, contracts must include provisions for technology transfer, local production or skills development.
For example, the provision of portal allocations under the sugar master plan should take into consideration participants’ backwards integration plans and investment in Nigeria and ensure compliance with the Master Plan.
“The MDAs have also been directed to immediately conduct an audit of all procurement plans and submit revised versions in line with these directives. Breaches will attract sanctions, including cancellation of procurement processes by such MDAS, and indeed disciplinary action against responsible officers,” the minister noted.
The federal cabinet approved these proposals on Monday and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation has been directed to prepare an Executive Order to be issued by President Bola Tinubu.
This is a major shift in government policy, Mr Idris added. “It puts Nigeria – not foreign companies, not imports – at the heart of our national development.”Once signed into law, Mr Idris said, the legislation will “foster a new business culture that will be bold, confident, but also very, very Nigerian, and it aims at making the government invest in our people and our industries by changing how the government spends money, how we procure and how we also build our economy.”“Going forward, Nigerian industry will take precedence in all procurement processes,” the minister said.
This is a major shift in government policy, Mr Idris added. “It puts Nigeria – not foreign companies, not imports – at the heart of our national development.
”Once signed into law, Mr Idris said, the legislation will “foster a new business culture that will be bold, confident, but also very, very Nigerian, and it aims at making the government invest in our people and our industries by changing how the government spends money, how we procure and how we also build our economy.”
Where local supply falls short, contracts will be structured to build capacity domestically, according to Mr Idris. “Contractors will no longer serve as intermediaries sourcing foreign goods where local factories die. I take the example of the sugar industry.”
“For example, we still have so much importation of sugar coming into this country, yet we have the Nigerian sugar council that was set up to look inward to see how sugar production can be produced, you know, for the benefit of Nigerians.
President Tinubu has proposed that we will no longer just sit there and allow importation to come into this country where there is the capacity for production of these commodities locally.
Now, as I said, the president has proposed the following directives, and all of them have been approved by the Federal Executive Council.”
President Tinubu has proposed that we will no longer just sit there and allow importation to come into this country where there is the capacity for production of these commodities locally. Now, as I said, the president has proposed the following directives, and all of them have been approved by the Federal Executive Council.”
Business
Dangote proposes to build refineries in East Africa if …
Dangote made the pledge at the infrastructure summit – the Africa We Build Summit 2026 – on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya.
Africa’s leading industrialist and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said the refinery in Lagos can be replicated in East Africa with the right support.
Dangote made the pledge at the infrastructure summit – the Africa We Build Summit 2026 – on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya.
The proposed refinery Dangote was referring to would be built in Tanga, Tanzania. A pipeline would be linked to Kenya’s Mombasa port to serve the entire East African region. Kenya, Uganda, and neighbouring eastern African countries would benefit
Dangote said: “I can give commitment to the two presidents that were here; if they will support the refinery, we’ll build the identical one that we have in Nigeria – 650,000 barrels per day.”
The presidents he was referring to are Kenya’s President William Ruto and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.
The proposed refinery Dangote was referring to would be built in Tanga, Tanzania. A pipeline would be linked to Kenya’s Mombasa port to serve the entire East African region. Kenya, Uganda, and neighbouring eastern African countries would benefit.
On the readiness, Dangote said: “There is nothing that can stop it. We have done the one in Nigeria and that’s why we are taking the bold move which was started already. Piling has started, while building to a scale – 1.4 million barrels per day will give us the largest refinery – world number two.
“It is 10% of entire United States of America’s refining capacity.
And this is coming with lot of, you know, petrochemicals. If we look at it today in Nigeria, if not because we have polypropylene, all the plants, all businesses would collapse.
“Cement is packed in polypropylene, flour, rice, grains, everything. So nothing… and the cost now has shot up between just 45 days – from $900 to 3$3,000. There is no way you can afford that. You can’t afford it.
“So, that is why we must learn how to build self-sufficiency. Right now, we have big financial institutions that are very hungry for big ticket items. And we’re also big in terms of our own vision.
“So, it is possible. Africans can do it. Let us not be scared. No. Let us not come and be convinced, as I know somebody needs to carry our own material to go and produce and bring the items here.
“I must really thank the President of Uganda for taking this bold move: stopping the export.
They will be forced. They would come (and) produce. Why do you have to take your material (away), then you’ll bring it back? We have educated people. We have big financial institutions. It’s not like before. Things have changed.”
Business
CBN increases ATM card issuance fee by 50% to N1,500
CBN disclosed this in its Exposure draft of the Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions, OFIs, in Nigeria 2026.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has increased the fee for issuance and replacement of Automated Terminal Machine (ATM) debit/ credit cards by 50 percent to N1,500 from N1,000.
The apex bank also scrapped the N50 monthly charges for Naira Debit/ Credit Card maintenance which usually includes 7.5 percent Value Added Tax but said customers with Foreign Currency denominated debit/credit cards will continue to pay maintenance fee of $10 per annum.
CBN disclosed this in its Exposure draft of the Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions, OFIs, in Nigeria 2026.
The apex bank also reiterated among other things that the cost of ATM transactions on Merchants PoS will be borne by the Merchant and not the customers.
CBN said: “ATM card Issuance/Replacement charges for regular/basic debit/credit card is N1, 500. “Charges for Premium Debit/Credit/Hybrid Card are negotiable Virtual cards at no charge. “Merchant Service Charge (MSC) (charge to be borne by the merchant).
There shall be no charge to the cardholder paying the merchant.
“All card transactions done by cardholders at a merchant location shall be free of charge to the cardholder, i.e. the MSC shall be borne by the merchant.
The MSC payable by a merchant (0.5 percent) subject to a cap of N10,000 shall be the same irrespective of the technology or payment methods.”
In a circular to Banks, Other Financial Institutions and the Public signed by the Director Financial Policy and Regulation Department, CBN, Dr. Rita Sike, CBN said that the review of the guide to charges by banks and OFIs and non bank Financial Institutions was to fulfill its mandate to promote a safe and sound financial system in Nigeria accelerate the adoption of innovative financial services, financial inclusion and micropayments/transaction.
(Vanguard)
Business
FG Launches Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN) To Boost Industrial Productivity
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu-Udeh, described ECoN as a national framework designed to bridge the gap between research and the marketplace.
• Kano ECoN launch by First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Thursday 23,2026.
The federal government has launched the Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN) an initiative of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, launched the programme in Kano, yesterday, and calling for a shift from ideas to industrial productivity.
The First Lady said that Nigeria must move beyond generating ideas to building industries that create jobs and drive economic growth.
She noted that although innovative concepts continue to emerge from universities, technology hubs and young entrepreneurs, many do not translate into real-world solutions.
“This initiative represents a decisive effort to close that gap by creating an environment where ideas can grow, attract support and scale into real solutions,” she said.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu-Udeh, described ECoN as a national framework designed to bridge the gap between research and the marketplace.
He said that the initiative aims to transform research outputs into revenue-generating ventures while promoting inclusive economic growth.
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