‘N7tn Spent on Importation of Consumables in 2015’

By Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, said an estimated N7 trillion was spent by Nigerians to import consumables and household items into the country in 2015.

Abubakar decried the development at a stakeholders meeting held in Kano on ‘Buy Made-in-Nigeria Products’ organised by her ministry in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

She said the staggering amount on importation of goods was unacceptable to the present administration hence the national orientation to change the attitude of Nigerians towards patronising locally made products. 

“In 2015 alone, over N6.7 trillion was spent on the importation of goods and services for which the nation can produce locally. N1.09 trillion was reportedly spent on imported foods and drinks; N1.5 trillion on spare-parts; N123.01 billion on shoes and clothes and N399 billion on household items. Imagine if this had been spent on our local industries,” she stated. 

She recalled that it was out of government determination to encourage the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that acting President Yemi Osinbajo signed the Executive Order 3 aimed at ensuring that 40 per cent goods procured by government agencies are made locally.

She therefore urged Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) to register on the website of the Bureau for Public Procurement to enable them  take advantage of the provisions of the Executive Order 3.

“Also, in pursuant of the federal government commitment to the support for Made-in-Nigeria initiative, the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, signed on May 18, 2017, Executive Order 3.

“As part of the implementation of the Executive Order 3, Made-in-Nigeria products shall be given preference in the procurement of the following items: uniforms and footwear, food and beverages, stationary, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals, construction materials and information and communication technology and at least 40 per cent of the procurement expenditure on these items in all MDAs of the federal government of Nigeria shall be locally manufactured goods and service providers,” she said.

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