The chairman of Zinox Group,
Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh has applauded the Federal Government (FG) on the recent
signing of an Executive Order compelling its agencies to buy Made-in-Nigeria
goods and services, reports ITRealms.
This move, Ekeh noted, would
go a long way in boosting indigenous businesses and the local content drive in the
country.
Speaking on this at the
weekend in Lagos, Ekeh said that the order, signed by the Acting President,
Yemi Osinbajo last Thursday dwelt mostly on the preference for indigenous goods
and services as well as the removal of bureaucracies which stall
businesses.
ITRealms recalls that the stipulated
Executive Order, as detailed in a document presented by Minister of Industry,
Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, stated that all Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government shall grant
preference to local manufacturers of goods and service providers in their
procurement processes for a number of items including food and beverages, motor
vehicles, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products, pharmaceuticals,
construction materials, furniture and fittings, among others.
Thus reacting, Ekeh commended
the FG’s move as a step in the right direction and a potential game-changer for
many quality-minded local businesses in Nigeria.
“This announcement alone
would have excited an army of 21st Century young Nigerian entrepreneurs
who have been facing depression based on rejection of their certified products
by government agencies and parastatals. It is a great development in our new
Nigeria and I pray the Federal Government demonstrates the will to implement
this to the letter in order to activate real and progressive development in the
country. As you know, this policy direction will potentially result in massive
job creation for our youths.
“Granting preference to
local manufacturers is a sure way of igniting the spirit of indigenous
entrepreneurship. This is the standard the world over. Nigeria boasts a number
of world-class companies whose products can compete favourably with those of
their foreign counterparts. The problem has always been the right form of
support from the government.
“Zinox, for instance, is
patronized by a number of multinationals. Apart from Chevron Nigeria who remain
one of our most regular customers, we have also enjoyed consistent patronage
from other multinationals such as Total and Shell. Some of these companies – Chevron,
Shell, Total have been patronizing Zinox for over 14 years and this is based
purely on service quality as we all know the high standards these companies
aspire to.
“I must commend the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting President, Yemi
Osinbajo for this bold move which will certainly go a long way in strengthening
our local industries, provide more employment for our youths and boost our local
currency,” Ekeh declared.
Recollecting that Osinbajo
had signed three Executive Orders giving specific instructions on a number of
policy issues. They include the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the
business environment designed to facilitate the ease of doing business in the
country; timely submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory and
non-statutory agencies, including companies owned by the Federal Government and
the support for local contents in public procurement by the Federal Government.
“Any document issued by any
MDA of government for the solicitation of offers, bids, proposals or quotations
for the supply or provision of goods and services shall expressly indicate
preference to be granted to domestic manufacturers, contractors and service providers
and the information required to establish the eligibility of a bid for such
preference.
“All solicitation documents
shall require bidders or potential manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and
consultants to provide a verifiable statement on the local content of the goods
and services to be provided.
“Made in Nigeria shall be
given overwhelming preference or at least 40% of the procurement spend on
locally manufactured goods and services providers. Some priority items include:
uniforms and footwear, food and beverages, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals,
construction materials, Information and Communication Technology, furniture and
fittings and stationery.
“Within 90 days of this
order, the heads of MDAs shall assess the monitoring, enforcement, implementation
and compliance with this Executive Order and Local Content stipulations in the
Public Procurement Act, or any relevant act within their agencies,” the
document had stated.
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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