Stakeholders in Nigeria’s manufacturing and economic policy space have warned that the success of the federal government’s “Nigeria First” industrialisation agenda hinges not on presidential declarations alone, but on the development of a coherent and enforceable policy framework.
The call comes amid recent remarks by President Bola Tinubu reiterating his administration’s commitment to prioritising local content, encouraging domestic production, and reducing dependency on imports through a “Nigeria First” approach to industrial policy.
While the ambition has been broadly welcomed, economic experts argue that without robust institutional backing, legislative support, and a clear implementation roadmap, the policy risks becoming another well-intentioned slogan with limited practical impact.
“Industrial growth is not achieved by decree,” said Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, an economist and former member of the National Economic Council. “We need a comprehensive policy architecture—one that includes investment incentives, infrastructure development, protection for local industries, and firm regulatory oversight.”
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) echoed similar sentiments, urging the federal government to complement its rhetoric with tangible support systems, such as access to affordable credit, reliable power supply, and an efficient transportation network.
According to MAN President Otunba Francis Meshioye, “The ‘Nigeria First’ initiative is noble, but the operating environment must be conducive for manufacturers to thrive. Without addressing core structural challenges, the policy will struggle to deliver results.”
Analysts also warn that inconsistent policy execution and weak enforcement mechanisms have historically undermined Nigeria’s industrialisation efforts. They point to previous interventions like the Import Substitution Strategy and the Backward Integration Policy, which showed initial promise but faltered due to lack of continuity and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
To change this trajectory, experts are calling for a cross-sectoral industrial strategy backed by legislation, harmonised with fiscal and monetary policy, and coordinated across relevant ministries, departments, and agencies.
“Nigeria has a chance to harness its large population and resource base to build a strong industrial sector, but only if there is a long-term vision backed by serious political will and policy coherence,” said Zainab Balogun, an industrial policy analyst based in Abuja.
The Tinubu administration has promised to unveil a detailed industrial masterplan before the end of the year. Observers are watching closely to see whether the policy will move beyond rhetoric and begin to lay the institutional groundwork necessary for sustained growth.
