…BPP Integrates NASENI Product Catalogue into NOCOPO
….Urges MDAs to Prioritise Local Content
In a decisive move to translate policy into action, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enforce the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” Policy on procurement, projects, and local content promotion.
The MoU was signed on Monday at the BPP headquarters in Abuja and represents a milestone in the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote Nigerian-made goods and services, drive economic growth, support entrepreneurship, and reduce dependence on foreign imports.
Under the agreement, the BPP will integrate NASENI’s catalogue of over 50 market-ready products into the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO). This integration is designed to ensure that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) now actively consider and prioritise NASENI’s locally developed solutions—including surveillance drones, solar systems, tractors, and digital devices—in their procurement processes.
Speaking at the ceremony, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, emphasised the significance of the collaboration, noting that it will remove major barriers faced by the Agency in commercialising its innovations.
“With this MoU, 80% of the challenges in convincing investors and foreign partners are resolved. Nigeria will no longer be a dumping ground for foreign goods,” Halilu stated. “We are moving from prototypes to full commercialisation. NASENI has already attracted over $2 billion in investment partnerships, notably from China.”
He added that the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s broader economic goals of industrialisation, youth employment, and self-reliance. NASENI, he said, is not only producing but also transforming into a national production hub through initiatives such as the renewable energy park in Nasarawa and collaboration with the Abuja Technology Village.
On his part, the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, described the MoU as a “structured bridge between production and procurement.” He commended NASENI’s commitment to quality, noting that its products are certified by regulatory bodies like SON and NAFDAC.
“This is not protectionism, but patriotism backed by performance,” Adedokun said. “We are institutionalising a framework that makes local products the default option for public procurement. NASENI’s innovations are now visible, verifiable, and measurable across all MDAs.”
Highlighting NOCOPO’s impact, Adedokun revealed that the portal saved Nigeria over ₦173 billion, $155 million, and €1.7 million in the first half of 2025 alone. He called on other MDAs to emulate NASENI’s commitment to the Nigeria First initiative.
He also noted that with the BPP’s revised procurement thresholds—now ₦5 billion for goods and ₦10 billion for works—MDAs have more autonomy to act quickly, while oversight will be maintained through strengthened post-review mechanisms.
“Our job at BPP is to ensure that Nigerian-made excellence is rewarded with access. The era of looking outside when the best is made inside is over,” he concluded.
The MoU is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s industrialization efforts, enhance local content development, and deliver tangible benefits across the public procurement ecosystem.
