In what is fast becoming a defining moment in Nigeria’s push for economic self-reliance, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has taken a bold step to champion the “Nigeria First” agenda—a call to action urging Nigerians to prioritise local content in all areas of procurement, contracts, and services.
Speaking during a strategic stakeholder engagement in Abuja, Adeniyi made a passionate appeal for a national rethink on the way goods and services are sourced across sectors.
“Let us all think home in all purchases, procurement, contracts and services,” he said.
The Customs boss, who has consistently advocated for institutional reforms and greater efficiency at Nigeria’s borders, is now extending his influence beyond trade facilitation to drive a more patriotic economic agenda. Under his watch, the Nigeria Customs Service has already begun reviewing internal procurement policies to favour indigenous manufacturers, service providers, and local contractors.
Strategic Shift in Policy and Practice
Insiders within the Customs Service confirm that recent procurement cycles now include evaluation metrics that prioritise local content. From uniform production and fleet maintenance to ICT infrastructure and facility management, the NCS is actively sourcing local solutions—signaling a major departure from past practices.
This shift is already inspiring similar moves across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), some of which have commenced internal reviews to align with the “Nigeria First” directive. Multinational companies operating in Nigeria are also reportedly reassessing their local sourcing strategies in response to growing pressure to support the domestic economy.
Ripple Effect Across Key Sectors
The implications of this movement are profound. In the oil and gas sector, the push aligns with the objectives of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), while in construction, agriculture, aviation, and ICT, it has the potential to boost job creation, strengthen local capacity, and reduce capital flight.
Industry analysts say the renewed local content drive—spearheaded by a prominent figure in public service—may be the catalyst needed to reinvigorate Nigeria’s manufacturing base and encourage a new wave of investment in local enterprises.
Business Community Reacts
Stakeholders across the private sector have welcomed the move, describing it as timely and necessary. Many local entrepreneurs, long sidelined in favour of foreign suppliers, see it as a breakthrough moment that could open new opportunities for growth and relevance.
Economic analyst Dr. Michael Ojo described Adeniyi’s leadership as “a pragmatic model of economic nationalism,” noting that the CGC’s decision to begin with reforms within his own agency gives the agenda credibility.
Adeniyi’s “Nigeria First” initiative is quickly evolving from a slogan into a national framework that could reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape. By calling on Nigerians to prioritise homegrown talent, businesses, and services, the Customs chief has lit a spark that may well become a transformative movement.
If widely adopted, this agenda could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s journey toward self-reliance and sustainable economic development. For now, the message is clear—and it’s gaining traction: Nigeria must come first.
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