NASENI, BPP sign MoU to implement Nigeria First procurement policy
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” policy on procurement and related matters.
Speaking at the signing event in Abuja on Monday, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the policy will eliminate about 80 percent of the challenges in convincing investors and partners, by affirming the government’s commitment to local products. He stressed that the MoU would help take over 50 market-ready NASENI products off the shelves and into national use.
Halilu revealed that NASENI has already secured over $2 billion in partnership deals with China. He added that the agency is building the country’s largest renewable energy park in Nasarawa and collaborating with the Abuja Technology Village to promote local manufacturing and innovation.
“Our goal is to move from prototype development to full commercialisation. We want NASENI products to gain national acceptance and drive Nigeria’s industrialisation,” he said. Halilu also stated that the collaboration with BPP aligns with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to foster economic growth and job creation.
BPP Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, said the MoU bridges production and procurement by positioning local innovations—such as NASENI’s tractors, tablets, drones, and solar systems—at the centre of public service delivery. He said the policy institutionalises local content as the default choice in procurement decisions.
Adedokun announced that NASENI’s product catalogue would be integrated into the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO), enabling MDAs to access and prioritise local solutions. Between January and June this year alone, NOCOPO helped Nigeria save over ₦173 billion, $155 million, and €1.7 million through enhanced price intelligence.
He clarified that the Nigeria First policy is not protectionism, but patriotism based on performance. NASENI’s products are certified by SON and NAFDAC, and are now visible, verifiable, and measurable across MDAs. Adedokun emphasised that the BPP will support MDAs with the tools needed to favour quality local content.
Adedokun concluded by urging MDAs to adopt the new procurement thresholds—₦5 billion for goods and ₦10 billion for works—which allow faster approvals while maintaining audit integrity. He assured that BPP would back the Nigeria First policy with continued reforms to ensure sustained national impact.
