The change bug flying everywhere in Nigeria today due to the President Buhari’s change mantra has extended its bite to the Senate. The result is seriously manifesting in the motions been presented in the Red Chambers. A motion under the name ‘Need for patronization of made in Nigeria Goods in Nigeria’ sponsored by Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia South, although serious as it came but with a bit of comic relief by no other Senator than Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West). Dino said ‘The Campaign shouldn’t be a a mere lip service and shouldn’t be limited to goods alone but should include ladies’. Apparently referring to the governor of Edo state, his excellency Adams Oshiomhole who married an Eritean/Cape Verdean lady.
The motion by Abaribe couldn’t have come at a better time as Nigerian Currency, the Naira has received a serious hammering in the foreign exchange market due to the fact that Nigeria as a country imports virtually everything including toothpicks from abroad. The Senate recalls that in the 1960s up to the early 70s, the Nigerian economy ran on made in Nigeria exports. Industries were located in rural areas and made in Nigeria products were popular with Nigerians and many other African countries.
It now regrets that Nigeria today consumes what it does not produce. Investment in real sector has given way to trading in foreign and imported goods. Nigeria government spends billions of Naira yearly to purchase imported vehicles, furniture, textiles, printing papers and even consumables such as rice, drugs, vegetables oil, fruit juice etc
The Senate urges the Federal Government to initiate and implement the First option policy on purchase of locally manufactured products for any government procurement in all arms of government and every public funded organisation.
