Senate President , Dr. Bukola Saraki, has commended the Nigerian Army for purchasing 50,000 pairs of shoes for its officers use from local manufacturers in Aba, Abia State.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said the Army’s decision to patronise made-in-Nigeria footwear was a good example, which showed the force as a pacesetter and a truly national institution ready to contribute its quota in ending the present economic recession in the country.
The Senate President urged other military and paramilitary forces to emulate the Army by immediately banning the purchase of all imported footwear in preference to locally-produced ones.
He also urged the military and paramilitary agencies not to limit their patronage and promotion of made-in-Nigeria goods to only shoes but to other items that could be sourced locally.
He said, “This is the essence of the amendment of the Public Procurement Act by the Senate since June. The new law compels all ministries, departments and agencies of government to compulsorily give preference to goods and services, which can be sourced locally.
“We believe one of the gains that our country will derive from this recession is to make our people look inward and patronise locally-made goods.
“Patronage of Made-in-Nigeria goods is an obvious panacea for our economic problems.
“We will by doing that increase our Gross Domestic Product, empower our youths, challenge their creativity, increase revenue generation ability of state governments and improve on the sense of self pride and patriotism of Nigerians.”
