Nigeria can earn N3trn from patronage of locally-made goods, says minister

John Enoh, the minister of state for industry, trade, and investment, says the country could earn about N3 trillion from the patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods.

Enoh spoke on Wednesday at a press conference in Lagos ahead of the 2025 West Africa industrialisation, manufacturing, and trade summit and exhibition.

On May 5, the federal executive council (FEC) approved the ‘Nigeria First’ policy aimed at prioritising the use of locally made goods and services in all government procurements.

Speaking during the press briefing, Enoh said the ministry is planning to launch a nationwide campaign to promote the use of locally produced goods and services.

“The Nigeria First policy is what we are pulling off at the ministry level,” he said.

“The hope is that in the next few months, we are going to start a nationwide campaign on buying Nigerian goods and services. That is to follow up on the presidential pronouncement.

“When we are looking at the figures in terms of what will be the success rate when we begin the campaign for the promotion of using Nigerian goods, we found out that the country would earn about N3 trillion more in the short term if we are able to run a successful campaign.”

‘BUYING NIGERIAN GOODS IS INVESTING IN COUNTRY’

Enoh said the campaign would emphasise patriotism by showing that buying made-in-Nigeria products is a way of “investing in the country”.

“We have this tendency to always want to buy foreign-made goods and all of that. We can drive a campaign that makes it patriotic, that makes everybody know that if you buy made-in-Nigeria, you are investing in this country,” he said.

“These are the consistencies that this present administration is trying to achieve in terms of policy.”

The minister also spoke on the significance of the summit, describing it as a platform for Nigeria to showcase leadership in the subregion.

“The summit gives us a chance to be that leader, to be that big brother,” he said.

“It gives us a chance for government and the private sector, as well as development partners, have a chance in one group, in one setting, to discuss industrialisation, manufacturing and trade issues as they concern our sub-region.”

“It gives us a chance for government and the private sector, as well as development partners… we’ll have a chance in one room, in one setting, to discuss industrialisation, manufacturing, and issues as they concern our sub-region.”

Enoh added that the summit would also allow Nigeria to present the government’s efforts in industrial growth and demonstrate what collaborative engagement between policymakers, private sector actors, and agencies can achieve.