The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has stepped up efforts to position Nigeria as a strategic industrial and manufacturing hub for Europe, calling on the European Union to integrate Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones into European value chains as part of a broader economic realignment.
The appeal was made by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, during a high-level trade and investment facilitation meeting held at the European House in Abuja.
The meeting brought together European ambassadors, heads of EU member state delegations, officials of the European Commission, and representatives of the European External Action Service.
According to NEPZA, the engagement was aimed at deepening EU–Nigeria trade relations, attracting long-term industrial investment, and repositioning Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones as platforms for resilient supply chains at a time of growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Ogunyemi said Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones offer Europe an opportunity to diversify production locations, reduce exposure to supply chain disruptions, and strengthen economic cooperation with Africa’s largest economy.
Nigeria free zones as gateways to EU–Africa industrial partnership
Ogunyemi argued that Nigeria free zones are uniquely positioned to support Europe’s evolving economic priorities, particularly its push for strategic autonomy, supply chain resilience, and diversified partnerships beyond traditional production hubs.
He noted that the global economic system is increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions, shifting alliances, and disruptions to long-established supply routes, making it necessary for Europe to explore new, reliable industrial corridors.
“As the global order transitions from a predictable, rules-based system to one shaped by geopolitical pressures and economic realignments, Nigeria’s free zones provide a credible pathway for Europe to expand and deepen its economic footprint in Africa,” Ogunyemi said.
He added that Nigeria’s geographic location, large domestic market, youthful workforce, and expanding infrastructure base make its Special Economic Zones attractive destinations for European manufacturers seeking proximity to African markets.
According to him, increased European activity within Nigeria free zones would not only reduce concentration risks for European industries but also unlock new growth opportunities across West Africa.
Aligning with Europe’s strategic autonomy agenda
Ogunyemi said recent policy signals from European leaders emphasising economic resilience and reduced dependence on a narrow set of suppliers align strongly with Nigeria’s free zone framework.
“We recognise how EU leaders have articulated a vision of economic independence anchored on diversified and strategically aligned partnerships,” he said. “Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones offer a platform that supports this vision while fostering shared prosperity.”
He explained that Nigeria’s free zones are designed to support export-oriented manufacturing, logistics, processing, and services, offering regulatory incentives, tax reliefs, and streamlined administrative processes.
By integrating Nigeria free zones into European value chains, Ogunyemi said EU firms could benefit from cost efficiencies, market access advantages, and proximity to raw materials while contributing to industrial development and job creation in Nigeria.
Rethinking EU–Africa trade structure
Despite the European Union’s status as Africa’s largest trading and investment partner, Ogunyemi warned that the structure of trade between both regions remains skewed and unsustainable.
He cited data showing that trade in goods between the EU and Africa reached nearly €355bn in 2024, while trade in services exceeded €100bn, yet Africa continues to export mainly raw materials with limited value addition.
“This trade pattern presents a shared strategic challenge,” Ogunyemi said. “Overreliance on primary commodity exports constrains industrial growth, weakens human capital development, and exposes both regions to long-term supply chain risks.”
He argued that targeted European investment in Nigeria free zones could help rebalance trade by promoting manufacturing, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, automotive assembly, and other value-added industries.
Such investments, he said, would support technology transfer, skills development, and sustainable industrialisation while strengthening Europe’s access to processed and semi-finished goods.
Boosting investment flows into West Africa
NEPZA believes that deeper EU participation in Nigeria’s free zone ecosystem would have ripple effects beyond Nigeria, positioning the country as a regional manufacturing and logistics hub for West Africa.
Ogunyemi said Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones could serve as launchpads for European firms looking to scale operations across the ECOWAS market, which has a combined population of over 400 million people.
“Increased European economic activity along Nigeria’s free zone corridors would strengthen investment flows into West Africa’s fastest-growing markets while safeguarding critical supply chains,” he said.
He added that Nigeria’s reforms in customs administration, port operations, and digital trade facilitation are gradually improving the operating environment for investors within the zones.
A call for mutually beneficial partnerships
The NEPZA boss emphasised that Nigeria is not seeking extractive or one-sided relationships but partnerships built on shared value, long-term investment, and mutual economic gains.
According to him, Nigeria free zones are structured to support both foreign investors and local enterprises, creating linkages that integrate domestic suppliers into global production networks.
Officials at the meeting noted that stronger EU engagement with Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones could also support Europe’s climate and sustainability goals through investments in cleaner production, renewable energy, and environmentally responsible manufacturing.
The meeting ended with calls for continued dialogue, technical collaboration, and policy alignment to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s free zones as engines of industrial growth.
As global trade patterns continue to evolve, NEPZA says Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones offer Europe a timely opportunity to rethink its Africa strategy — not just as a source of raw materials, but as a partner in industrial production, innovation, and shared prosperity.
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