Abuja: The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) have formalized a partnership to bolster local defence manufacturing. This collaboration aims to operationalize the Federal Government’s ‘Nigeria First’ policy within the defence and security sectors.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, BPP’s Assistant Chief Information Officer, this initiative is set to strengthen domestic defence investments, enhance local military manufacturing, and promote national self-reliance. The partnership was highlighted during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of DICON, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, to the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun.
Adedokun praised DICON’s leadership for proactively engaging with BPP regarding procurement regulatory mechanisms. He emphasized that the Nigeria First policy requires Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritize domestic products and services without compromising on quality or global standards. This policy is part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to enforce domestic preference in public procurement. Adedokun noted that the policy grants indigenous defence producers and suppliers the first right of refusal for defence-related procurement. He reiterated BPP’s commitment to working with DICON to refine procurement frameworks and establish domestic preference standards.
Maj.-Gen. Alaya pointed out that the partnership aims to form a strong institutional alliance to incorporate defence investments into the Nigeria First policy framework. This would ensure that national security expenditures contribute to industrial growth and job creation. He assured that DICON is dedicated to meeting Nigeria’s national security needs locally. Alaya also stated that collaboration with BPP is crucial for aligning DICON’s procurement strategies with local content compliance, ensuring that public funds spent on defence provide economic benefits for the nation.
The meeting concluded with both agencies agreeing to form a joint technical working committee to develop an operational roadmap for implementation.