Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has reaffirmed his administration’s strong commitment to promoting locally made products as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s economy and deepen self-reliance.
Speaking at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Annual General Meeting in Lagos with the, theme, “Nigeria First: Patronizing Made-in-Nigeria Products,” Governor, Otu represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Odey, said the policy aligns with his administration’s People First mantra.
“This is a clarion call for our collective survival and economic liberation,” Odey said, stressing that patronage of local products is key to national prosperity.
He highlighted Cross River’s industrial and agricultural strides, including cocoa plantations in Ikom, rice fields in Ogoja, rubber estates in Akamkpa, and the expanding oil palm sector.
He added that the state government has adopted a local motor manufacturing firm to supply locally made vehicles for official use and had taken delivery of over 100 locally made mini-tractors for farmers.
He urged other states to adopt the Nigeria First philosophy, saying, “Each time we choose a locally made product, we strengthen our national pride and economic future.”
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan-Enoh, announced that the Federal Government will soon make it mandatory for public institutions to prioritize Made-in-Nigeria products in procurement processes.
He disclosed that by December 2025, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Procurement, will issue new guidelines requiring justification whenever imported goods are chosen over certified local alternatives.
“The Nigeria First policy is not a mere slogan,” the President stated. “It is a disciplined way to spend, procure, and compete.”
In his welcome address, MAN President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, OFR, commended the Tinubu administration for setting up the Industrial Revolution Working Group (IRWG), describing it as crucial to implementing Nigeria’s industrial policy.
He lauded Cross River State for initiating steps to legislate the Nigeria First policy at the state level.
The AGM acknowledged and awarded Cross River as one state that emphasises local contents more.
