This is a complex issue because while local manufacturing is the only long-term path to sustainable growth, an immediate pivot away from imports could lead to severe supply shortages and even higher prices. The reality is that our current infrastructure gaps make it incredibly expensive for local businesses to compete, so a sudden stop to imports would likely worsen inflation in the short term. The most balanced approach would be a dual strategy that provides tax incentives and reliable power to key domestic industries while maintaining targeted imports for essential goods that we cannot yet produce efficiently. For the average Nigerian, the fastest relief would come from government policies that stabilize the naira and lower energy costs, as these factors inflate both local production costs and the price of imported goods. Ultimately, we need to build our capacity at home without isolating ourselves from the global supply chains that currently keep the cost of living from spiraling even further.