[Mayor Ikoroha]

On May 5, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the ‘Nigeria First’ policy, a strategic framework conceived topromote self-reliance, local content development, and the protection of indigenous industries to reduce dependency on foreign goods and services. By promoting domestic production, enhancing security, and ensuring equitable resource distribution, the policy seeks to empower Nigerian citizens and businesses while reinforcing national unity. Concisely, Nigeria First is designed to create a resilient and prosperous nation driven by home-grown innovation and sustainable progress.

For close observers, the ‘Nigeria First’ policy is simply the Nigerian Content Policy in the oil and gas industry being extended to other sectors of the economy. The similarities are clear because the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010 advances the ‘Nigeria First’ policy in the oil and gas sector. TheNOGICD Act set up the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and mandated it to ensure that Nigerians and their firmsparticipate actively in the activities of the oil and gas industry and oil companies domicile their core operations in the country, so that the populace can benefit maximally from the nation’s oil and gas resources.

According to the Presidency, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is responsible for promotingthe Nigeria First policy and is expected to enforce procurement rules that prioritize Nigerian-made goods and home-grown solutions across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). As part of this initiative, the BPP has been tasked with revising procurement guidelines to ensure compliance with local content requirements and maintaining a comprehensive database of high-quality Nigerian suppliers.

Considering the similarity between the policies, the best course of action is for BPP to leverage some of NCDMB’s frameworks to drive national development and to avoid reinventing the wheel and possibly making mistakes in the process. BPP is also encouraged to collaborate with the NCDMB and possibly adopt some of the successful templates and models that would make the Nigeria First policy a success from the get-go.

Some of the reasons why this is the best approach for BPP include:

NCDMB’s Proven Success in Local Content Development

The NCDMB has transformed the oil and gas industry by enforcing policies that prioritize Nigerian participation, resulting in significant economic benefits. As of 2024, the NCDMB reported that local content in the oil and gas sector had reached 56%, with projections to achieve 70% by 2027. This growth reflects the Board’s strategic interventions, including the development of in-country capacities, job creation, and retention of industry spending. For instance, the NCDMB’s oversight has ensured that Nigerian companies are prioritized in the key areas of the industry, including fabrication, engineering, procurement of critical equipment, such as vessels, low and high-voltage cables, paints, etc, fostering local manufacturing and reducing capital flight.

One of NCDMB’s flagship achievements is its rigorous monitoring and evaluation framework, which includes mandatory submission of statutory reports on procurement, marine vessel utilization, and local content compliance. These reports, supported by standardized templates, allow the NCDMB to track the percentage of Nigerian content commitments, verify vendor equity structures, and ensure the use of Nigerian Content Equipment Certificates (NCEC). This transparency has positioned the NCDMB as a leader in accountability, earning it the top ranking in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Compliance Report for three consecutive years, alongside awards for digital governance from the Bureau for Public Sector Reform (BPSR).

The NCDMB’s capacity-building initiatives have also been instrumental. By fostering human capital development, infrastructure investments, and local supplier development, the board has created over 50,000 through on the job trainings and attachments on live projects, where local consortia executed significant project scopes. Additionally, the NCDMB’s Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), funded by a 1% deduction from upstream contracts, has supported several local service firms to grow their human and technical capacities, positioning them to deliver on bigger projects.

The Board has also supported research and development, technology incubation, and institutional strengthening. These outcomes demonstrate that a structured local content policy, backed by enforceable guidelines and templates, can yield measurable economic benefits.

The Case for BPP to Adopt NCDMB’s Models

The BPP has some things to learn from NCDMB’s highly developed protocols for managing local content development and compliance. By leveraging NCDMB’s proven models and templates, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) can enhance its capacity to operationalize the Nigeria First policy effectively, ensuring that public procurement processes prioritize Nigerian goods, services, and expertise.

With the primary task of overseeing public procurement in Nigeria, the BPP is uniquely positioned to integrate the Nigeria First policy into government contracting processes. By understudying and adopting some NCDMB’s models and templates, the BPP can ensure that public procurement prioritizes Nigerian businesses, aligns with national development goals, and enhances transparency.

To support the Presidential orders, the BPP can adopt NCDMB’s Nigerian Content Equipment Certification Guidelines. These guidelines ensure that equipment used in the oil and gas sector meets local content standards, promoting the use of Nigerian-manufactured goods.

The BPP can also be introduced to NCDMB’s Nigerian Content Compliance Protocol Deployment, which culminates in the issuance of the Nigerian Content Compliance Certificate (NCCC), ensuring that vendors adhere to local content requirements. Insights from NCDMB’s baseline census of companies operating in key sectors of the oil and gas industry will provide the BPP with valuable data for identifying capable Nigerian firms and gaps in capacity. NCDMB has also developed other instruments, including standardized templates for monitoring procurement and compliance, which can be adapted for broader public sector use.

Suggested Steps for Implementation

To successfully apply NCDMB’s models, the BPP should create simple, standardized local content templates. It should work with NCDMB to adopt monitoring and reporting tools for public procurement. These templates should track local content percentages, vendor ownership, and compliance with Nigerian sourcing rules.

The BPP can also follow NCDMB’s approach to local content certification by introducing a similar certification for contractors, like NCDMB’s Nigerian Content Equipment Certificates (NCEC). This will ensure that only companies with strong Nigerian involvement can bid for public contracts. It will also encourage foreign companies to partner with local firms, boosting technology transfer and capacity building.

To support Nigerian businesses, the BPP should consider setting up a fund similar to NCDMB’s Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF). This fund would help finance training programs, infrastructure, and SMEs, allowing them to compete for government contracts and meet required standards.

Additionally, the BPP can strengthen monitoring and evaluation by using NCDMB’s quarterly reporting system. This would help track the impact of procurement policies on local content development. Regular audits and public reports would improve accountability and promote continuous growth.

Lessons from across Africa

The NCDMB’s local content implementation strategies is one of the best modelsin the world. Several African countries have visited the Board and understudied Nigeria’s local content models, while some have invited NCDMB personnel to mentor their personnel in their jurisdictions. NCDMB has also collaborated closely with several ministries, departments and agencies on several projects, such that setting up a framework with BPP should be easy to navigate.

Conclusion

NCDMB has shown how local content policies can boost economic growth and industrial development in the oil and gas sector. By using NCDMB’s models, the BPP can support Nigeria’s ‘Nigeria First’ policy, making public procurement a tool for job creation, transparency, and self-reliance.

As Nigeria works toward a stronger economy, the BPP’s adoption of these strategies will show its commitment to leadership and innovation, in line with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s vision for a prosperous Nigeria.

• Mayor Ikoroha, an industry analyst, contributed this piece.