It's basic economic principle that production of goods and services will lead to the creation of wealth and employment thereby translating to increase in the gross domestic product which translate to economic growth and stability
But unfortunately most African countries like Nigeria rely solely on importation of goods to meet the needs of her citizens, infact the situation is so bad that it's said even toothpick is been imported
As a Nigerian, I can confidently say that it's not a good situation we are currently facing with the level of importation over that of exportation, there is a serious need from the side of the government, to focus their attention more on the local products rather than the imported ones because the country have got thousands of businesses that have ventured into the production industry and are thriving in their own capacities. What government needs to do is to focus more on those local contents and products then maximize and scale up their production capacity through the provision of business funds, grants and loans, from one angle. As well as through the patronage of those products through large scale purchase of goods from the government. It is noteworthy to say that this cuts across all the industries in the country.
From the drugs her citizens take to take care of her sick citizens to the food that her population eats are all imported infact the economy is an import based economy that even the cruide oil that the country is naturally blessed with the country still import petroleum products like cooking gas, pms, kerosene etc is still been imported and is out of reach to the ordinary citizens
Let's just assume that some elements of governments always wants to take advantage of the system by neglecting or paying less attention to the locally produced goods and focus more on the imported ones because of the profits they make from that transaction cycle. Else, weve got local pharmaceutical companies like Fidson, Sygen, Emzor, Chi and other hundred companies. As per what I know, there are around 130 number of those companies across the country which the government can encourage through their programs and policies. As for the food production companies, they are countless and scattered across the length and breath of the state.
Finally there can never be any meanfull economic growth with out improving your local content by mass production of goods which will reduce the import rate of any country there by leading to reduction in the prices of goods and services
Exactly, this is the best practices across the world especially for developed nations like USA, UK, China, Canada and so on. The federal and state governments, including local authorities of those nations work hard on focusing on the local contents and products made by their production companies across the country most of which are privately owned and the government assets.