A Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has expressed satisfaction with President Bola Tinubu over the ban on importation of foreign goods and services already available in the country, hailing him for being firm and focused on taking the country to a greater height.
President Tinubu had on Monday okayed a ban on the importation of foreign goods by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies on goods or services available in the country, without a waiver from the Bureau of Public Procurement.
In a statement yesterday by the convener of ATT, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, he noted that the ban of such goods and services was in line with the objectives of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda policy.
“We are happy that President Tinubu through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris announced this ban which we believe will address financial wastages in public establishments. The new policy dubbed the ‘Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy’ aims at strengthening the domestic economy, promoting local content, and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports.”
He believes that it will empower local industries as it is designed to foster a bold, confident, and uniquely Nigerian business culture. He added that the good thing about this new policy is that it mirrored the U.S. “America First Policy.”
He called on all MDAs to review and resubmit their procurement plans in line with the new policy, adding that relevant authorities should ensure disciplinary action and possible cancellation of future procurement processes against breaches of this policy.
He queried, “What are the economic benefits of continued importation of sugar despite having a functioning Sugar Council and several domestic producers. This is a clear example of inefficiency the policy seeks to eliminate from our country.
“Government money must now work for the Nigerian people. And contractors will no longer be allowed to act as intermediaries importing foreign goods while Nigerian factories remain underutilised and closed.”
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