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Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice-President and Presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate commitment to his administration’s “Nigeria First” policy by replacing his foreign-made vehicles with locally manufactured ones.
In a statement released Wednesday, May 7, by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said practical actions by the presidency would have a greater impact than official pronouncements.
On Monday, May 5, the Federal Executive Council approved the Nigeria First policy aimed at prioritising local goods and services in government procurement.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the decision after the FEC meeting in Abuja, noting that the policy would be formalised through an executive order.
“This policy means Nigeria comes first in all procurement processes; no foreign goods or devices that are already being produced locally will be procured without a clear and justified reason,” Idris said.
“Now this seeks to foster a new business culture that will be bold, confident, but also very, very Nigerian.”
In his reaction, Atiku said the administration must move beyond declarations to concrete actions.
“The Tinubu administration’s latest Nigeria First mantra, paraded through the Federal Executive Council, is nothing but another tired PR stunt—designed to deceive, not deliver,” the statement read.
“Nigerians have grown weary of hollow speeches. If this government is truly serious about local content and economic patriotism, it must start at the very top.”
Atiku challenged President Tinubu to stop using foreign luxury vehicles and switch to locally made brands.
“We challenge President Tinubu to stop the noise and trade in his beloved Escalade for an Innoson, Nord or any made-in-Nigeria car. That single act will do more to promote the local industry than a thousand policy memos,” he said.
“Let’s see the ministers—those shameless Rolls-Royce connoisseurs—sweat it out in Nigerian-made vehicles, too. Or is Nigeria First only for the masses?”
Atiku also addressed what he described as double standards in the administration’s public messaging.
“It’s time Mr. President shelves his love affair with Paris and London. If he’s serious about patriotism, his next vacation should be at Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. Nigeria is beautiful—unless, of course, the President thinks otherwise.”
He further called on the President to commit to using Nigerian hospitals for all medical care.
“The era of jetting off for medical tourism while preaching self-reliance must end. We demand that President Tinubu—champion of Nigeria First—conduct all future medical check-ups at LUTH, National Hospital Abuja, UCH Ibadan, or even the ₦41 billion Akwa Ibom world-class hospital in Uyo. If these hospitals are good enough for ordinary Nigerians, they should be good enough for their Commander-in-Chief. Anything less is sheer hypocrisy.”
Atiku concluded by saying that leadership should be demonstrated through example, not slogans.
“This government’s addiction to foreign luxuries while demanding sacrifice from suffering Nigerians is the height of insincerity. True leadership isn’t photo-ops or soundbites—it’s setting the tone by example.”
