Publication Details
Abstract
Government policies should usher in an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, reduce inflation, boost employment, increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and create wealth for the citizens. On paper, the “Nigeria First” policy (apparently modelled after Donald Trump’s contentious “America First” policy) could boost local production and encourage consumers to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods, with all the expected benefits. Leaders whose actions are anchored on practical examples will be emulated more than those who preach what they have no intention of practicing. This paper reappraises the policies aimed at revitalising the country’s faltering industries and prescribes possible remedial measures that would change the narrative. Using quantitative and thematic analyses models, the paper identifies the major policy thrusts and highlights the key obstacles to the seamless implementation of the government’s stated policies. The study examines past government interventions, especially the 2017 National Industrial Policy, with emphasis on such disruptive tendencies as agonising bureaucracy, tax incentives, poor electricity supply, corruption, and demands by community youths. The study also relies on secondary data to assess the impact of public-private partnerships on enterprise growth and highlights some observed gaps in the implementation processes. The paper recommends measures to boost enterprise growth through targeted and inclusive government policies.