The Federal Government has introduced the Nigerian Industrialisation Policy, a new framework aimed at accelerating value addition, expanding industrial capacity and creating jobs across the country, as Nigeria looks to reposition its economy away from raw commodity dependence.
The policy was formally announced by the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, during a soft launch held on Thursday in Lagos. The event took place alongside the presentation of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Macroeconomic Outlook Report for 2026, bringing together policymakers, private sector leaders and economic analysts.
Approved and validated in 2025, the Nigerian Industrialisation Policy is designed to serve as a unifying national blueprint that aligns industrialisation efforts with trade and investment strategies. Government officials say it addresses long-standing fragmentation in Nigeria’s industrial policy landscape by providing a coordinated and execution-focused approach across ministries, agencies and the private sector.
According to Senator Enoh, the policy prioritises value addition in key sectors such as manufacturing, agro-processing, solid minerals and light industry, with the goal of reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imports while boosting export competitiveness. He noted that Nigeria’s industrial base has historically been constrained by structural bottlenecks, including weak infrastructure, limited access to finance, policy inconsistency and poor linkages between production and markets.
The new framework seeks to tackle these challenges by promoting industrial clusters, strengthening local supply chains and encouraging investment in technology and skills development. It also places emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises as engines of job creation, while enabling large-scale manufacturers to deepen local sourcing and expand capacity.
Officials involved in the policy design say it is closely aligned with Nigeria’s broader economic reform agenda, including trade facilitation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By improving industrial competitiveness, the government hopes Nigerian firms will be better positioned to take advantage of regional and global markets, rather than remaining primarily import-dependent.
The policy also reflects extensive consultation with stakeholders, including the private sector, development partners and research institutions. The NESG, which co-hosted the launch, has repeatedly warned that Nigeria’s growth prospects will remain fragile without a strong industrial base capable of absorbing labour and generating sustainable foreign exchange earnings.
Analysts say the success of the Nigerian Industrialisation Policy will ultimately depend on implementation discipline, regulatory consistency and the ability to mobilise both public and private investment. Previous industrial strategies have struggled to deliver results due to policy reversals and weak coordination, raising expectations that this new framework must move quickly from planning to execution.
If effectively implemented, the policy could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, which has faced years of underperformance despite the country’s large domestic market and abundant resources. For the government, it represents an attempt to translate economic reform rhetoric into a concrete industrial pathway that delivers jobs, resilience and long-term growth.
Nigeria achieves 85% capital spending after 2024 budget extension – Minister
