The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) has announced significant progress in the Nigeria Industrial Policy 2025, reporting substantial achievements within its initial 90 days of implementation. These advancements span critical areas including financing, skills development, industrial infrastructure, exports, and support for local manufacturing.
According to a progress report from the Office of the Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, all eight strategic objectives of the policy have seen commencement of implementation activities. This marks a transition from policy formulation to active execution.
The ministry highlighted that over $380 million was mobilised in strategic financing during this period. Additionally, plans for a proposed N350 billion MSME Development Fund are advancing, and five quick-win initiatives have been activated through the Bank of Industry (BOI). Hundreds of youths and artisans have also benefited from skills development programs, and initiatives to enhance export readiness for local manufacturers have been facilitated.
Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, stated that these early achievements underscore the Federal Government's dedication to translating industrial policy into tangible outcomes. He emphasised that the Nigeria Industrial Policy is designed as a delivery instrument for productivity, competitiveness, investment, job creation, and national value retention.
Under the government's 'Made-in-Nigeria' agenda, FMITI has initiated consultations with key stakeholders. These include the Bureau of Public Procurement, the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Association of Local Automotive Manufacturers, and operators in the cotton, textile, and garment sector. The aim is to bolster the implementation of the Nigeria First Policy and increase support for domestically produced goods.
The report also detailed progress in MSME development, specifically mentioning advancements in financing arrangements for the Nigeria MSME Industrial Clusters Programme. This programme is intended to bolster industrial infrastructure, enhance productivity, create jobs, and drive value addition across various industrial clusters.
In terms of skills development, 400 youths received mechatronics training via NADDC, and an additional 220 artisans were trained under the Industrial Training Fund’s Skill Up Artisan Programme. Strategic collaborations with the Bank of Industry are also underway, focusing on MSME census and capability mapping, developing the Idu Industrial Park ecosystem, the Cocoa Value Chain Summit, compliance monitoring, and Industrial Revolution Working Group roundtables.
Implementation efforts in industrial competitiveness have covered the revitalisation of the cotton, textile, and garment sector, sugar production, electric vehicle manufacturing, fertiliser and agricultural inputs, rice milling and processing, and cashew processing for export.
Regional trade initiatives have also seen progress, including the launch of a Vehicle Homologation and Certification Programme and the award of African Quality Marks to 131 Nigerian companies for 220 products. The ban on raw shea nut exports has been extended to promote domestic processing and value addition.
To address energy access for manufacturers, the ministry has advanced the Idu Industrial Park Pilot Power Programme in the Federal Capital Territory, viewing it as a replicable model for industrial clusters nationwide.
Looking ahead, FMITI plans to focus on operationalising the MSME Industrial Cluster Programme, ensuring dedicated gas supply to Idu Industrial Park, launching a revised Cotton, Textile and Garment Sector Policy, implementing the National Shea Value Chain Framework, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
The ministry has reiterated its commitment to regular reporting, stakeholder engagement, and implementation discipline as the Nigeria Industrial Policy 2025 progresses.
