Nigeria spent about N7 trillion on imported goods, services in 2015, says FG

*As MDAs Directed To Procure 40% On Made-In-Nigeria Goods
Disturbed by the low patronage of made-in-Nigeria products by Nigerians, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajiya A’isha Abubakar, has lamented that the country spent about N7 trillion on the importation of goods and services.

Abubakar, who made the revelation at the Northwest Zonal Flag-off/Sensitisation Workshop on Campaign for Patronage of Made-in-Nigeria Products and Services, held at Africa House, Kano Government House, stressed that Nigeria needs to motivate importers to do away with unwanted importation of foreign products.

She said: “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.”

The minister added: “We need to motivate our MSMEs and assist them become formidable brands and celebrating them. This would lead to generation of massive employment, boost our culture and tourism sector, create wealth, reduce poverty and increase the foreign exchange earning capacity of the country.”

According to her, when the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo signed this year’s budget, indicates that “…as part of the implementation of the Executive Order 3, Made-In-Nigeria products shall be given preference in the procurement of uniforms and footwear, food and beverages, stationery…and at least 40 per cent of the procurement expenditure on these items in all MDAs of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

Abubakar urged participants to carry the campaign for Made-in-Nigeria to places, so that society would prosper. In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Rabiu Ahmed Bako, urged Nigerians to constantly patronise local products for the industrial development of the country.

Ganduje said: “The virtues of consumer patriotism should be inculcated in the minds of Nigerians to patronise our local products, which has to be demonstrated at both private and all the functions of government establishment.

“Our ailing industries will soon bounce back. We are partnering with Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other stakeholders to produce quality Made-in-Nigeria products.”

He called on the Federal Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investments to organise a forum in cluster format to create competition of made-in-Nigeria products, adding: “We are calling on marketers to create a synergy between them and government for government to come up with policy that will be directed at forcing MDAs to patronise Made-in-Nigeria goods.”