Abuja: The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has directed Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to strictly comply with the Nigeria First Policy in the procurement of vehicles and automotive equipment. Dr Adebowale Adedokun, the Director-General of BPP, issued the directive through a statement by Ngozi Anyaelezu, Assistant Chief Information Officer, highlighting the policy’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Transformative Agenda.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the directive follows a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, dated May 20, which instructed MDAs to prioritize locally assembled vehicles. This move underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to local industrialization, economic self-reliance, foreign exchange conservation, and fostering national pride in Nigerian-made products. The directive aligns with the guidelines and criteria of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).
Adedokun emphasized that the Public Procurement Act, 2007, requires accounting officers to ensure that procurement plans, bidding documents, evaluation criteria, and contract awards reflect the Nigeria First Policy. He stated that Federal MDAs and procuring entities must prioritize domestically assembled vehicles, machinery, and automotive spare parts. The procurement of vehicles from foreign manufacturers is prohibited unless an official waiver is granted due to a lack of local capacity or availability.
The Director-General instructed procuring entities to adhere to the stipulated guidelines and eligibility criteria in the circular. He mandated that payments for automotive procurement must be processed with evidence of a Letter or Certificate of ‘No Objection’ from the BPP. Additionally, MDAs are required to compile and submit details of all vehicles in their pools from 2020 to the present, including purchase details and the status of the vehicles.
Adedokun stated that these details must be submitted no later than three months after the financial year’s end through the Automobile Procurement Records Submission platform. Quarterly procurement reports from MDAs should include a breakdown of automotive purchases with local content compliance details. Non-compliance will lead to the rejection of procurement approval requests and sanctions against defaulting officers and entities.
The BPP urged all MDAs and procuring entities to ensure full compliance with the directive, noting its immediate effect.