Tinubu’s “Buy Nigerian” Mandate Bans Foreign Procurement Without Waivers President Bola Tinubu has introduced the #RenewedHopeNigeriaFirstPolicy, a sweeping directive banning Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from procuring foreign goods and services without a written waiver from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). Approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the policy aims to bolster Nigeria’s #localeconomy, reduce #importdependence, and foster a “bold, confident, and very Nigerian” business culture, according to Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. Announced on May 6, 2025, the policy mandates all MDAs to prioritize #locallymadegoods and #homegrownservices, with the BPP tasked to revise procurement rules, enforce #localcontent compliance, and maintain a national database of qualified Nigerian suppliers. Procurement officers will now report directly to the BPP to ensure accountability and curb undue influence. “No MDA will be allowed to procure foreign goods or services already available locally without a written waiver,” Idris emphasized. In cases where foreign contracts are unavoidable, they must include provisions for #technologytransfer, #localproduction, or #skillsdevelopment. Idris cited the sugar industry as a key example, noting that Nigeria continues to import sugar despite the Nigerian Sugar Council and local producers. “This policy will change that by prioritizing our own industries,” he said. The announcement has sparked vibrant debate on X, with #BuyNigerian trending. Supporters, such as @NaijaPride2025 , praised the move as a “lifeline for #MadeInNigeria products,” predicting job creation and industrial growth. Critics, like @EconSkepticNG , questioned enforcement, citing historical loopholes in waiver processes. “Will the BPP stay firm against powerful importers? We need transparency,” the user posted. In a related development, Finance Minister Wale Edun announced Nigeria’s full membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), securing 50 shares worth $5 million. Edun described the move as part of Tinubu’s #economicreforms, which are showing “very encouraging signs” of recovery. The World Bank’s 2025 Nigeria Economic Report projects that robust local content policies could boost GDP by 2-3% over five years, though challenges like quality control and supply chain gaps persist. The #RenewedHopeNigeriaFirstPolicy builds on Tinubu’s earlier “Nigeria First Policy,” reinforcing #selfreliance and #industrialization. With 133 million Nigerians living in poverty, per World Bank data, the policy aims to redirect government spending to empower local industries, create jobs, and enhance global competitiveness. The Presidency has urged citizens to embrace the initiative, framing it as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic renaissance. #NigeriaFirst #BuyNigerian #Tinubu #LocalContent #EconomicReform

Tinubu Unveils "Nigeria First Policy" to Prioritize Local Industries in Procurement President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched the #NigeriaFirstPolicy, a transformative initiative aimed at prioritizing #localindustries in all government procurement activities. Announced on May 6, 2025, the policy seeks to bolster Nigeria’s economy by favoring domestically produced goods and services, reducing reliance on foreign products, and curbing the role of contractors as middlemen while local factories remain underutilized. Under the #NigeriaFirstPolicy, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has been directed to immediately revise and enforce guidelines to ensure #locallymadegoods and #homegrownsolutions take precedence. The BPP is tasked with creating a “Local Content Compliance Framework” for all government procurements, maintaining a register of high-quality Nigerian manufacturers and service providers, and reverting the deployment of procurement officers to the BPP to enhance efficiency. “This is a bold step to empower Nigerian businesses and drive #economicgrowth,” a presidency spokesperson stated. President Tinubu also issued directives to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Procurement of foreign goods or services available locally is now prohibited without justification and a written waiver from the BPP. In cases where local supply is insufficient, contracts must include provisions for #technologytransfer, #localproduction, or #skillsdevelopment. For example, the Sugar Master Plan’s Quota Allocations will prioritize participants’ backward integration and investment in Nigeria. MDAs are required to audit procurement plans immediately, with breaches attracting sanctions, including contract cancellations and disciplinary action. The policy has sparked widespread discussion on X, with the hashtag #NigeriaFirst trending. Supporters, like @NaijaEconWatch , hailed it as a “game-changer for #MadeInNigeria products,” citing potential job creation and industrial growth. However, critics, including @ConcernedNigerian, raised concerns about enforcement, pointing to past policy failures and corruption risks. “Will the BPP resist pressure from vested interests? We’ve seen waivers abused before,” the user posted. The initiative aligns with Tinubu’s broader economic reforms, including efforts to address the N4 trillion power sector debt and phase out unsustainable subsidies. Economists estimate that prioritizing local industries could save billions in foreign exchange annually, though challenges like inconsistent quality and limited capacity in some sectors remain. The World Bank’s 2025 Nigeria Economic Report notes that strengthening #localcontent policies could boost GDP by 2-3% over five years if effectively implemented. As Nigeria navigates economic challenges, including 133 million citizens in poverty per World Bank data, the #NigeriaFirstPolicy signals a push for #selfreliance and #industrialization. The Presidency has called for public support, emphasizing that the policy will foster job creation, innovation, and global competitiveness for Nigerian industries. #NigeriaFirst #LocalContent #Tinubu #ProcurementReform #EconomicSelfReliance

Nigeria Presidency Rebuts AfDB’s Adesina, Sparks Social Media Firestorm Over Trump Comparison The Nigerian Presidency’s sharp rebuttal to African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s claim that Nigerians are worse off now than in 1960 has ignited a viral social media trend, with some users drawing parallels to debates about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s fitness for office. The controversy, trending under #NigeriaEconomicDebate and #AdesinaVsPresidency, has fueled heated discussions on X, where Nigerians and global observers are weighing in on the country’s economic trajectory and leadership credibility. Adesina, speaking at Chapel Hill Denham’s 20th anniversary dinner in Lagos, cited Nairametrics data suggesting Nigeria’s GDP per capita fell from $1,847 in 1960 to $824 today, implying a decline in living standards. The Presidency, through spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, dismissed these figures as “incorrect,” asserting that Nigeria’s GDP in 1960 was $4.2 billion with a per capita income of $93 for a 44.9 million population. Onanuga argued that GDP only surged in the 1970s oil boom, peaking at $164 billion in 1981, and highlighted modern advancements like mobile phone access and telecom growth, with MTN’s N1 trillion Q1 2025 revenue as evidence of progress. The debate has taken an unexpected turn on X, where users have linked Nigeria’s leadership disputes to the U.S. trend #TrumpIsNotFitToBePresident, which resurfaced in 2024 and early 2025. Posts on X, including one from @GenX_74 , argue that just as Trump faced scrutiny for fitness to lead, Nigerian leaders must be held accountable for economic mismanagement. “If New York banned Trump from business, why can’t we question leaders here when poverty is at 133 million?” the user wrote. Another post by @BarryMarkson1 echoed this, questioning the coherence of Nigeria’s economic policies amid rising inflation and unemployment, drawing parallels to criticisms of Trump’s erratic leadership style. Critics of the Presidency, like Paul Ibe, aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have backed Adesina, citing World Bank data showing Nigeria accounts for 19% of sub-Saharan Africa’s extreme poor. Ibe accused the government of “gaslighting” citizens by downplaying economic hardship, a sentiment echoed in X posts labeling the Presidency’s response as “defensive propaganda.” Conversely, supporters of the government argue that Adesina’s reliance on GDP per capita ignores non-economic progress, such as infrastructure and digital inclusion, with one user ( @NaijaPatriot22 ) posting, “Adesina’s stats are selective. Nigeria’s not perfect, but 1960 had no roads, no tech. Compare apples to apples!” The #TrumpNotFit trend, while U.S.-centric, has been co-opted in Nigeria’s discourse to highlight perceived leadership failures. A Pew Research Center report from February 2025 noted that 44% of Americans lacked confidence in Trump’s mental fitness, with 54% questioning his ethics, fueling global discussions about leadership accountability. Nigerian X users have drawn parallels, with @AngryNigerian tweeting, “If Trump’s unfit for chaos, what about leaders here ignoring 133 million in poverty? #FixNigeria.” The controversy underscores Nigeria’s polarized economic narrative, with Adesina advocating for bold reforms like universal #electricity, #industrialization, and competitive #agriculture, while the Presidency defends its record. As the #NigeriaEconomicDebate trend grows, it reflects broader calls for transparency and accountability, amplified by global comparisons to leadership critiques like those against Trump. #Nigeria #AfDB #Adesina #EconomicDebate #TrumpNotFit #LeadershipAccountability

Nigeria Presidency Rejects AfDB President’s Claim of Economic Decline Since 1960 The Nigerian Presidency has sharply disputed a claim by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), that Nigerians are economically worse off today than at independence in 1960. The rebuttal, issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, challenges both the data and conclusions presented by Adesina during a keynote address at Chapel Hill Denham’s 20th anniversary dinner in Lagos. Adesina, citing Nairametrics, claimed Nigeria’s GDP per capita was $1,847 in 1960, dropping to $824 today, signaling a regression in living standards. The Presidency, however, labeled these figures “incorrect,” asserting that Nigeria’s GDP in 1960 was $4.2 billion, with a per capita income of $93 for a population of 44.9 million. Onanuga argued that GDP only rose significantly in the 1970s due to the oil boom, reaching $12.55 billion in 1970 and peaking at $164 billion in 1981, with per capita income hitting $3,200 in 2014 after GDP rebasing. Beyond the numbers, the Presidency criticized Adesina’s reliance on GDP per capita as a sole measure of progress, calling it a “poor tool” for assessing living standards. Onanuga highlighted that it overlooks wealth distribution, the informal economy, and advancements in #healthcare, #education, and #infrastructure. He noted Nigeria’s progress since 1960, including expanded road networks, more schools, and near-universal access to mobile phones, with over 200 million Nigerians now using digital services compared to 18,724 phone lines in 1960. Onanuga also referenced the telecom sector’s growth, citing MTN’s N1 trillion revenue in Q1 2025 and 84 million subscribers as evidence of economic vitality, questioning how this aligns with claims of regression. However, critics, including Paul Ibe, aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, supported Adesina, arguing that 133 million Nigerians live in poverty, with declining life expectancy, high unemployment, and a collapsed naira reflecting real economic hardship. Ibe accused the Presidency of “gaslighting” Nigerians by cherry-picking data. Adesina’s remarks align with the World Bank’s April 2025 Africa’s Pulse report, which states Nigeria accounts for 19% of sub-Saharan Africa’s extremely poor, underscoring persistent #poverty and #inequality. He advocated for bold reforms, including universal #electricity access, rapid #industrialization, and competitive #agriculture, to transform Nigeria into a global economic powerhouse by 2050. The Presidency, while acknowledging challenges, insists Nigeria has made significant strides since 1960, with GDP growth far outpacing independence-era levels. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over Nigeria’s economic narrative, with #povertyreduction and #economicreforms remaining critical issues. #Nigeria #AfDB #Adesina #GDP #EconomicDevelopment #Presidency