The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) have jointly unveiled a new regulatory framework that requires all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to give priority to locally assembled vehicles in their procurement processes. This initiative is designed to bolster domestic manufacturing and ensure that government expenditures align with national economic priorities.
Nigeria First Policy Implementation
Speaking at an event in Abuja yesterday on the implementation of the Nigeria First Policy, the Director-General of the BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, stated that the new circular on automotive procurement represents a significant transformation in Nigeria's procurement landscape. He emphasised that public spending must now actively support local production, industrial expansion, and job creation.
Adedokun stressed that the Nigeria First policy demands stricter adherence throughout procurement planning, bidding, evaluation, contract award, and contract management. Clear obligations require sourcing vehicles exclusively from eligible local assemblers approved by the NADDC.
Key Requirements and Oversight
According to the BPP chief, automotive procurement will now be linked to verifiable eligibility criteria, traceable Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) documentation, and enhanced reporting mechanisms. Joint compliance monitoring between the BPP and NADDC will be conducted where necessary.
Adedokun warned that misrepresentation, false claims, or procurement outside the approved framework would attract sanctions under the Public Procurement Act and other applicable financial regulations. Enforcement will be stringent.
He explained that the initiative aims not only to ensure value for money but also to deepen local industrial capacity, reduce procurement abuse, and improve transparency in public spending. “We are aligning procurement with national development priorities. Government spending must now directly contribute to industrial growth and measurable national benefit,” he said.
The BPP Director-General urged all accounting officers and procurement units across MDAs to comply fully with the new directive. He noted that the agency would continue collaborating with stakeholders, including the NADDC, the Budget Office of the Federation, and other oversight bodies, to ensure effective implementation. He added that the policy has already attracted interest from global automotive investors while encouraging improvements in quality, standards, and competitiveness among local assemblers.
NADDC Perspective
Also speaking, the Director-General of the NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, described the policy as a turning point for Nigeria's automotive industry. He said it would reduce reliance on imported vehicles and stimulate domestic production. The framework will help strengthen assembly operations, expand technical capacity, and generate employment across the value chain, ensuring that only verified assemblers participate in government procurement.
Osanipin added that the use of VIN verification and regulatory oversight would guarantee quality assurance and accountability in the sector. He stressed that procurement has become a tool for economic development. He urged procuring entities to align their procurement plans with the new policy, describing it as a long-term investment in Nigeria's industrial future and youth employment.
