In a bold move to drive Nigeria’s industrial transformation, the Federal Government has announced plans to establish major industrial hubs in Kano, Abia, Lagos, and Ogun states. This initiative forms part of the implementation of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to revamp local production, boost employment, and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports.
The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, during the 16th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment held in Lagos. Enoh declared that the forthcoming projects are part of the federal government’s robust industrialisation framework driven by the Industrial Revolution Work Group (IRWG), a reform-oriented body inaugurated earlier this year.
According to a statement by Enoh’s Senior Special Adviser on Strategic Communications, Ifeoma Williams, the government will soon launch agro-processing hubs in Kano aimed at transforming cassava into ethanol and starch — a move projected to generate thousands of jobs.
Also planned are textile clusters in Aba (Abia) and Lagos, which are poised to reinstate both cities as premier garment manufacturing zones, with prospects for regional export. Additionally, Ogun State is to house a pharmaceutical production enclave that will strengthen Nigeria’s medicine supply chains and drastically reduce the nation’s pharmaceutical import bill.
“These are not just pilot projects,” Enoh said. “We are entering an era of full-scale industrialisation. Every investment, every reform, and every policy decision must be anchored in delivering tangible outcomes that reposition Nigeria globally.”
Speaking to stakeholders including federal and state officials, private sector leaders, and development partners, Enoh described the IRWG as the strategic engine room for dismantling systemic barriers, spurring real sector productivity, and unleashing Nigeria’s manufacturing potential.
The group is guided by five foundational pillars:
Financing and Investment Transformation
Energy and Infrastructure Modernisation
Regulatory Reform and Ease of Doing Business
Product Standards and Market Expansion
Human Capital Development and Industrial Innovation
“These pillars are no longer theoretical constructs—they are real levers being activated across Nigeria,” the minister stressed.
The 16th Council meeting, themed “Accelerating Diversification by Leveraging Industry, Trade and Investment for Shared Prosperity,” reviewed 75 memoranda—comprising 40 information items and 30 actionable recommendations. This signals a significant shift from policy discussions to implementation.
Enoh called on stakeholders to “move from rhetoric to results,” encouraging synergy between the IRWG, state governments, and the private sector to unlock financing for MSMEs, revamp idle industrial zones, and stimulate job-creating industrial clusters across the nation.
With industrial infrastructure being a crucial element for economic growth, the minister emphasised that Nigeria must not miss this turning point. “This council is not just another gathering. It is a clarion call to action. We stand on the brink of a new industrial dawn, and the time to act is now.”
The government’s commitment to building these hubs is seen as a strategic intervention to address the nation’s unemployment challenge, improve its export capacity, and foster inclusive development.
Observers believe that if properly executed, these initiatives could significantly reduce Nigeria’s import dependency, increase GDP, and reposition the country as a manufacturing giant in Africa.