The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale Adedokun, has hailed President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of public procurement reforms and the “Nigeria First” Policy in the 2026 budget speech delivered on Friday, December 19, 2025, at a joint sitting of the National Assembly, describing it as a significant boost to the reform agenda.
He noted that the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” represents a historic turning point in Nigeria’s fiscal management and industrial development strategy.
According to him, the President’s address went beyond outlining budgetary figures, describing it as a firm directive to fundamentally transform Nigeria’s procurement system. He noted that the speech clearly positioned the Bureau of Public Procurement at the centre of reforms aimed at restoring transparency, efficiency and accountability in public spending.
Dr Adedokun explained that a key pillar of this directive is the formal institutionalisation of the “Nigeria First Policy,” which President Tinubu highlighted while addressing the joint session of the National Assembly. Quoting the President, he said the government has, since November last year, implemented a comprehensive procurement reform framework that has improved efficiency, delivered substantial cost savings, shortened contract processing timelines, and strengthened enforcement measures against defaulting contractors and complicit public officials.
“Our Nigeria First Policy has been established to encourage self-sufficiency and sustainable growth within Nigeria by promoting domestic products and businesses. By mandating that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) consider Nigerian-made goods and local companies as their primary option, the policy aims to support local industries, create job opportunities, and reduce dependency on imported items’.”
● A strategic pivot towards domestic growth
Dr. Adedokun said that “The Bureau of Public Procurement recognises that public spending is one of the most powerful levers for economic transformation. By prioritising local content, we are not merely changing where we buy; we are changing how we build our nation.
“The Nigeria First Policy ensures that the trillions of Naira allocated for infrastructure, education, and health in the 2026 Budget circulate within our borders. When an MDA chooses a Nigerian-made product or a local service provider, the ripple effect is felt in our factories, our tech hubs, and among our small-scale entrepreneurs.
“It is the most direct way to foster innovation and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian enterprises on the global stage.”
● Beyond policy: Enforcement and accountability
Adedokun continued: “At the BPP, we are moving beyond the “vision” to “reality.” Under my leadership, and in direct alignment with the President’s directive for stronger discipline in budget execution, we are implementing a comprehensive framework of procurement reforms.”
These, according to him, included:
“Mandatory Local Preference: Rigorous enforcement of the directive that Nigerian-made goods be the primary option for all MDAs.
“Efficiency and Transparency: Leveraging the “end-to-end digitization” mentioned by the president to reduce contract processing times and eliminate leakages.
“Strict Compliance: As the President warned, we are increasing enforcement procedures against erring contractors and government officials who bypass local content requirements.”
Conclusion: Advancing Shared Prosperity
Adedokun concluded: “The 2026 Budget is a statement of national priorities. By championing the “Nigeria First” Policy, the BPP is ensuring that public procurement becomes an engine for job creation and sustainable growth.
He stressed that, as the President noted in his address, the true measure of any budget lies in its effective implementation. He reaffirmed that the BPP is fully prepared to deliver a procurement framework anchored on the “Nigeria First” principle, ensuring that the gains of national reforms positively impact households and communities across the country.
According to him, sustained strategic procurement and deliberate support for local industries would be key to realising the full objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda and translating policy commitments into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
