…As BPP integrates NASENI’s product catalogue into NOCOPO, urges MDAs to follow suit
In a major push to turn national policy into actionable outcomes, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to operationalise the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” policy.
The event took place at the BPP headquarters in Abuja.
The “Nigeria First” initiative, a flagship under the Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to prioritize the use of Nigerian-made goods, services and innovations in all government procurement and development activities. It seeks to boost local production, reduce dependence on imports, support indigenous businesses, create jobs and promote national identity, all while enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
At the signing ceremony, NASENI executive vice chairman, Khalil Halilu emphasised that the collaboration marks a strategic milestone for the agency. He noted that with BPP’s institutional support, NASENI’s 50 market-ready products will finally gain wide-scale acceptance and national patronage.
“With this MoU and the implementation of the Nigeria First policy, 80 per cent of the challenges we’ve faced in convincing investors and foreign partners will be resolved,” Halilu said. “Nigeria will no longer be a dumping ground for foreign goods. We are now prioritising the promotion of our products, goods and services.”
He revealed that NASENI has secured over $2 billion in partnership deals with China alone, as the agency continues transitioning from a research-based prototype producer to a commercial engine for Nigerian innovations. “We are building the largest renewable energy park in Nasarawa State and partnering with the Abuja Technology Village to enhance technology transfer, promote national brands and elevate production capacity.”
Halilu added that the MoU will support Nigeria’s long-term goals for industrialization, economic diversification, youth employment and inclusive growth. “This shows that our hard work is not in vain,” he said.
In his remarks, BPP director-general, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun described the MoU as a framework to bridge production and procurement, ensuring that locally developed solutions find a place at the centre of public service delivery. “This MoU gives practical force to the Nigeria First Policy by aligning procurement processes with national priorities,” he said.
Adedokun announced that BPP will now integrate NASENI’s product catalogue into the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO), the country’s online platform for procurement data. This integration, he explained, will make NASENI’s innovations — from solar backup systems and surveillance drones to tractors and tablets — more visible, verifiable and accessible to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
“The Nigeria First Policy is not about protectionism; it’s an act of patriotism grounded in performance,” he said. “NASENI has invested heavily in quality assurance and its products are certified by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC. This is about fast-tracking Nigeria’s industrial revolution through reliable, locally made solutions.”
Adedokun disclosed that NOCOPO’s enhanced price intelligence system had already saved Nigeria over ₦173 billion, $155 million and €1.7 million between January and June 2025 alone. He encouraged MDAs to take advantage of NASENI’s catalogue and adopt a default posture of prioritizing local solutions before considering foreign alternatives.
He also revealed that BPP’s revised procurement thresholds now stand at ₦5 billion for goods and ₦10 billion for works. This, he said, would allow MDAs to respond faster to local procurement opportunities while post-review and auditing processes are simultaneously strengthened.
“This partnership with NASENI is a benchmark for how we can scale up local innovation, generate jobs and reposition Nigeria as a manufacturing powerhouse. The role of BPP is to ensure that innovation and quality are rewarded with procurement access,” he stated.
In a statement issued by NASENI’s director of information, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, Adedokun reaffirmed BPP’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian-made goods and technologies become the default choice in public procurement processes. “For the avoidance of doubt, we will back this commitment with reform actions,” he added.
The MoU signing represents a significant step in moving from policy declarations to measurable, results-driven practices. With NASENI’s catalogue now embedded into the federal procurement ecosystem, the Nigerian government is better positioned to meet its targets on local content development, job creation and economic sustainability.
Observers note that this collaboration between NASENI and BPP offers a replicable model for other MDAs, demonstrating how inter-agency synergy can unlock national development goals. By aligning innovation with procurement, the initiative offers hope that made-in-Nigeria products will no longer gather dust on shelves, but instead become integral to Nigeria’s economic growth story.
