Abuja: The Federal Government has announced that the newly unveiled Digital Standards Platform is set to enhance confidence in Nigerian-made products by ensuring that only certified and standardised goods are procured with public funds. Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), highlighted the platform’s role in supporting the Nigeria First Policy during an event in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Adedokun explained that the Digital Standards Platform aims to promote quality, transparency, and value for money in public procurement. As the country’s largest buyer, the government has a duty to ensure that all products acquired by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) meet approved quality standards. The platform requires MDAs to verify suppliers and products before procurement to ensure only certified goods are purchased.
Dr. Adedokun emphasized that the initiative would improve the quality of locally manufactured products, encourage compliance with national and international standards, and strengthen public confidence in Nigerian goods. Furthermore, the platform is expected to promote fair pricing by reducing unjustified price disparities and ensuring that products meet expected quality and performance standards.
The initiative forms part of the phased implementation of the Nigeria First Policy, which has already been applied to the automobile and food sectors and is now extending to product standardisation. ‘At the end of the day, it is about one Nigeria, one standard, one patronage, and one trust,’ stated Dr. Adedokun.
Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), described the platform as a significant Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. It is designed to improve access to reliable information on certified Nigerian products, allowing users to verify the authenticity, origin, and certification status of products in real-time before purchase.
Implemented through a partnership involving the BPP, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and Goringo Concept Limited, the project demonstrates how PPPs can enhance public service delivery. Recent reforms by President Bola Tinubu have simplified approval processes for small-scale PPP projects, empowering MDAs to execute similar initiatives without unnecessary delays, said Dr. Ewalefoh.
He added that the platform would help the government save costs, improve quality assurance, promote Nigerian-made products, and ensure that only standardised goods are procured with public funds. However, effective compliance and enforcement are crucial for the initiative’s success. ‘It should not be Nigeria First on paper but Nigeria First in action,’ he emphasized.
Prof. Samson Duna, Director-General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), stated that the platform would contribute to reducing building collapse by helping users identify certified construction materials. Investigations by the institute have consistently identified the use of substandard materials as a major cause of building collapse in Nigeria.
The digital platform will enable builders, contractors, and the public to verify whether construction materials meet required standards before use. Prof. Duna highlighted concerns over reinforcing steel, noting that many products in the market do not meet approved standards. ‘The platform will enable anyone intending to build to identify brands of construction materials that meet the required standards before putting them to use,’ he said.
Prof. Duna expressed confidence that increased awareness and easier verification of certified materials would improve compliance with quality standards and enhance safety in the construction sector. The platform was developed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, SON, BPP, and Goringo Consult Limited.