The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has raised serious concerns over the Federal Government’s recently launched ‘Buy Made-in-Nigeria’ policy, warning that it directly contradicts the protocols of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which Nigeria is a signatory to.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lagos on Monday ahead of the 2025 NECA Annual Nigeria Employers Summit, the Director-General of NECA, Adewale Oyerinde, described the policy as a well-intentioned initiative that could backfire if not properly aligned with international trade commitments and internal structural reforms.
Oyerinde argued that while the Federal Government’s move to prioritise Nigerian-made goods and services through the Renewed Hope Nigeria First policy seeks to boost local industries, it undermines the essence of free trade within the African continent as enshrined in the AfCFTA.
“By that policy, the government is doing two things. One, it directly violates the protocols of the AfCFTA, which allows for the free movement of goods across African borders. Two, it puts undue pressure on Nigerian consumers who are already battling reduced purchasing power,” Oyerinde said.
The Federal Government had in recent months announced that all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) must give preference to Nigerian products and expertise when spending public funds. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, confirmed this during a post-FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
However, Oyerinde warned that without strategic investments to make local products globally competitive in terms of pricing and quality, the policy could hurt rather than help the economy.
“For example, if a chocolate bar produced in Nigeria costs N5 and a similar imported chocolate from Switzerland costs N3, it’s logical for any rational consumer to buy the cheaper one. Until the government addresses issues like power supply, infrastructure, and regulatory bottlenecks, the cost of local production will continue to be high,” he added.
NECA, the umbrella body for employers in Nigeria, stressed that achieving economic sustainability and growth requires aligning industrial, fiscal, trade, and regulatory reforms in a way that supports both local production and regional integration under AfCFTA.
The association’s upcoming summit, scheduled for June 25–26 in Abuja, is themed ‘Enabling Sustainable Enterprise in a Transitioning Economy: Aligning Fiscal, Trade, and Regulatory Reforms for Inclusive Development’. According to Oyerinde, one of the key goals of the summit is to facilitate constructive dialogue between the private sector and government on aligning these reforms to foster economic growth.
“We need to build consensus around these reforms. Without alignment and clear communication, the private sector remains in the dark, and implementation becomes chaotic,” he said.
Also speaking at the press conference, the Chairperson of the Summit Planning Committee, Victoria Uwadoka, reiterated the importance of policy coherence. She noted that the government’s current reform agenda is beginning to yield results, but consistency and coordination are crucial for sustained improvement.
“Compared to two years ago, businesses are beginning to experience some positive shifts due to reforms. But we need to ensure that all policy initiatives are working in harmony rather than at cross purposes,” she said.
NECA emphasized that government must consult with stakeholders and reduce the cost of doing business in Nigeria to ensure policies like the ‘Buy Made-in-Nigeria’ campaign do not become counterproductive.
The association also urged the government to provide an enabling environment—one that tackles insecurity, eases regulatory burdens, and improves infrastructure—to support the growth of Nigerian businesses and allow them to compete favorably both within the continent and globally.
As Nigeria looks to fully leverage the AfCFTA and stimulate domestic production, experts and industry stakeholders agree that thoughtful implementation, not protectionism, is key to achieving inclusive and sustainable economic development.