The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have deepened their collaboration to integrate Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) into the procurement process for goods, works, and services as part of efforts to align public procurement with national economic priorities
This step is part of the federal government’s Nigeria First policy under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The initiative draws its authority from Paragraph 13 of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Circular Ref No. 59780/S.2/B/532 dated May 27, 2025, which mandates prioritisation of Made-in-Nigeria goods and the requirement for all procurement activities to conform to established Nigerian standards.
According to a joint statement, the partnership was strengthened at a high-level strategy meeting held on July 10, 2025, at the BPP Headquarters in Abuja. Both agencies affirmed their commitment to integrating NIS into the federal procurement framework, to improve the quality of government projects, protect public investments, and bolster local production and services.
Among the major resolutions from the meeting is a new requirement that companies bidding for government contracts must present a valid certificate of subscription to SON’s Digital Standards Platform (DSP). This certificate, which will serve as a prequalification document, confirms access to applicable standards for their products and services.
Additionally, all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will now be required to utilise the DSP during procurement planning and specification writing. This ensures that procurement specifications are based on prescribed standards, allowing for early verification of compliance and guaranteeing quality from the outset.
In preparation for full implementation, MDAs have been directed to begin updating their procurement procedures, ensuring access to the DSP and integrating standard requirements into all bidding documents.
Meanwhile, companies and stakeholders in the procurement value chain are encouraged to begin subscribing to the DSP to access relevant standards and secure their subscription certificates in anticipation of enforcement.
The federal government stated that by mandating Nigerian standards in procurement, the initiative will help reduce substandard imports, stimulate local production, and reinforce Nigeria’s industrial capabilities.
The statement added that officials from SON and BPP expressed confidence that the integration of standards into procurement will improve the credibility of government projects, promote industrial self-reliance, and build public trust in procurement outcomes.
“All stakeholders are enjoined to embrace these changes,” the statement read, “as the resulting procurement system will not only champion ‘Nigeria First’ but also uphold a ‘Quality First’ ethos that benefits all.”