President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially launched the Nigeria Industrial Policy 2025, with a firm directive to government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to prioritize its speedy implementation.
This is as business magnate Alhaji Aliko Dangote expressed strong support for the initiative and projected a significant strengthening of the Naira.
The President unveiled the roadmap on Tuesday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu described the policy as a comprehensive blueprint designed to re-engineer Nigeria’s industrial base, unlock value across various sectors, and place production, competitiveness, and job creation at the core of the nation’s economic strategy.
Acknowledging past challenges, the President regretted that Nigeria had for too long grappled with fragmented value chains, high production costs, infrastructure deficits, and policy inconsistency.
However, he emphatically stated that “this stops now,” emphasizing that the new policy directly addresses these deficiencies.
“Industrialisation is not a wish you think about; it is an action you perform,” President Tinubu stated. He stressed that the task demands coherence across energy, trade, infrastructure, finance, skills, and innovation, requiring a robust partnership between the government and the private sector.
The President insisted that the defining strength of the policy lies in its execution. He made it clear that his administration would not measure success by the number of documents produced, but by tangible outcomes.
“We will measure success by the number of factories that open their gates at dawn, by the jobs created for our young men and women, by the exports that leave our ports bearing the mark of Nigerian excellence, and by the value retained within our own economy,” he declared.
Outlining the policy’s core focus, President Tinubu said it prioritizes strategic sectors based on Nigeria’s comparative advantages, advances value chain development to move the country from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods, and integrates Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) into the heart of industrial growth.
He also emphasised the alignment of infrastructure and energy with industrial ambition, as well as the strengthening of skills, technology, and innovation.
Dangote Commends Policy, Predicts Naira Stability
Speaking at the event, business mogul and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, thanked the federal government for introducing what he called a progressive industrial policy. He observed that Nigeria is unique in Africa as a country where the private sector is bigger than the government, and expressed firm belief that the ongoing economic reforms would yield positive results.
Dangote stated that domestic manufacturers are pleased with the policy created by the Tinubu administration. In a notable projection of confidence in the economy, he declared, “the naira, this year, will be at ₦1,000 to $1.”
The business leader announced that many investors are now willing to invest in Nigeria due to foreign exchange stability and other ongoing reforms. However, he suggested that the remaining critical factor is the protection of indigenous industries, warning that “if there is no protection, there is no way any industry will thrive here.”
Stakeholders Rally Behind the Policy
The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the launch as a turning point aimed at building an industrial Nigeria that produces, competes, and prospers. President Tinubu commended the Minister for his “disciplined leadership and clarity of purpose” in driving the process.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Malick Fall, expressed confidence that with the official launch, Nigeria has taken a step into its future, turning hope into action for inclusive economic growth. He noted that the policy is the outcome of an ongoing partnership between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Nigeria.
Similarly, the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Francis Meshioye, commended the President and assured that manufacturers are focused on the effective implementation of the policy, backing the promotion of indigenous entrepreneurship enshrined in it.
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