‘Big incentive to indigenous producers,’ Ndume backs Tinubu’s ban on foreign goods

Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume has commended the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration over ban on importation of foreign goods.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had announced on Monday at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting the decision to ban the foreign goods.

The government also placed a caveat on

expatriates coming into Nigeria to execute jobs, which local contractors and artisans can undertake, unless there is convincing justification for it, including express permission from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Reacting to the development, the former Senate Leader in a statement, Tuesday in Abuja, said the bold initiative by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would go a long way in promoting indigenous entrepreneurs, boost the local economy and generate employment for Nigerians.

“It is heartwarming to hear that President Tinubu has taken this bold decision to ban imported goods that can be produced locally.

“This will be a major boost for indigenous businesses amid the slipping Nigerian economy.

“If implemented faithfully, it will shield our local producers striving to find their feet from being choked out of existence by established foreign investors who flood our market, unhindered, with goods that are cheaper and even substandard.

“With protection of local industries, there will be employment for our employable youths, the measure will also boost our Gross Domestic Product, ( GDP) and the value of Naira will appreciate as their will be less strain on our foreign reserves, since the demand for foreign exchange by importers of such foreign goods would drastically reduce.”

The lawmaker also suggested to the Federal Government to “also impose heavy taxes on some of the foreign goods to discourage Nigerians from buying them and pick locally produced items.”