Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have urged President Bola Tinubu to take concrete steps toward supporting the “Nigeria First” policy by addressing insecurity, boosting energy capacity, cutting taxes for local manufacturers, improving access to finance, and incentivising MSMEs.
In a chat with Vanguard, Principal Counsel at Idris Faro & Co, Idris Faro, called the policy a “step in the right direction,” noting that no economy can thrive while depending heavily on imported goods.
“Nigeria has become a dumping ground for foreign goods—many of which are inferior to what we produce locally,” Faro said.
He argued that enforcement should start with government agencies, which often patronise foreign products despite the availability of quality local alternatives.
“Why should the government uplift foreign manufacturers at the expense of local ones? Using foreign furniture in government offices is unacceptable when we have better options locally,” he added.
Faro recommended major support reforms to make the policy sustainable:
-Improved and affordable electricity for production
-Tax relief on excise and company levies for manufacturers
-Accessible industrial land
-Export support to earn foreign exchange
He said full implementation would reduce unemployment, lower prices, and help strengthen the Naira.
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But not everyone agrees with the policy direction.
Executive Director of Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun Baiyewu, called the policy “ill-conceived,” warning that closing borders to foreign goods without addressing deeper economic issues could backfire.
“We need massive investment in infrastructure, energy, transport, food preservation, credit access, industrial intelligence, and security,” Baiyewu said. “You can’t expect others to open up their markets to Nigerian exports if we shut our own.”
She urged the government to focus on quality and pricing to make Nigerian products globally competitive instead of relying on import bans.
“Let our goods win by being better, not just because foreign options are blocked,” she said.
As the Tinubu administration moves forward with the policy, stakeholders are calling for detailed frameworks and timelines to measure progress and ensure the policy works for both producers and consumers.