President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday unveiled Nigeria’s Industrial Policy 2025 in Abuja and directed ministries, departments and agencies to ensure the plan is carried out without delay.
The policy was launched at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, where the President was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the Vice President, the new policy is designed to rebuild the country’s industrial base, improve production, strengthen competitiveness and create jobs.
Tinubu said the plan is meant to move Nigeria from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods while keeping more value within the local economy.
He noted that many policies fail not because of poor ideas but because they are not properly implemented.
He said Nigeria has struggled for years with broken value chains, high production costs, weak infrastructure, policy changes and poor coordination between government and industry. The new policy, he said, directly addresses these problems.
The President explained that industrial growth requires coordination across energy, trade, infrastructure, finance, skills and innovation. He added that government must work closely with the private sector to achieve results.
He stated that the success of the policy would be judged by practical outcomes such as the number of factories operating, jobs created for young people and increased exports from Nigerian ports.
Tinubu said the policy gives attention to key sectors where Nigeria has both natural and competitive advantages. It also aims to integrate micro, small and medium enterprises into industrial growth so that development is not limited to large corporations.
He added that infrastructure and energy supply would be aligned with industrial goals and that more attention would be given to skills training, technology and innovation.
He called on private investors to commit resources to local production, deepen value chains, create employment and work with government to build a productive economy.
The President also commended the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, for guiding the development of the policy, as well as technical experts and industry stakeholders who contributed to its design.
Earlier, Enoh described the launch as a fresh step toward building an economy driven by production and competition. He said the policy is intended to help Nigeria grow its industrial capacity and reduce dependence on imports.
Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, welcomed the new policy and said local manufacturers support the direction taken by the government.
He noted that Nigeria has a strong private sector compared to many African countries and said stability in the exchange rate and economic reforms are encouraging investors. He added that local industries require adequate protection to survive and expand.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, said the policy could help promote inclusive economic growth.
He referred to ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation aimed at helping the country play a stronger role in regional and global value chains.
The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Francis Meshioye, also pledged the association’s support for the implementation of the policy. He said manufacturers would back efforts to promote local entrepreneurship and industrial expansion.
The unveiling of the Industrial Policy 2025 marks the federal government’s latest move to strengthen domestic production, boost employment and reposition Nigeria’s economy for long-term growth.