The Federal Government has announced plans to establish new industrial hubs in four states as part of a broader strategy to boost Nigeria’s economy through manufacturing and innovation. This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, at the 16th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment, held in Lagos.
Senator Enoh stated that the hubs will be launched in Kano, Abia, Lagos, and Ogun states, focusing on agro-processing, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. These projects, he said, are being implemented under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and are part of a national strategy to create jobs, reduce import dependency, and increase Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
According to the minister, the government is preparing to unveil agro-processing hubs in Kano for converting cassava into ethanol and starch, textile manufacturing clusters in Aba and Lagos to boost garment exports, and a pharmaceutical production enclave in Ogun State to reduce the country’s reliance on imported drugs.
A statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Strategic Communications, Ifeoma Williams, explained that these hubs will provide employment opportunities and support small businesses, especially in manufacturing and agriculture.
“This is no time for pilot programmes or policy lip service,” Enoh said. “We are entering an era of full-scale industrialisation where every investment, every reform, every decision must drive us toward a globally competitive, inclusive, and innovation-led economy.”
Addressing a gathering of top government officials, industry leaders, and development partners, Enoh said the Industrial Revolution Work Group (IRWG), which he inaugurated in February, is at the heart of the government’s new industrial plan. The group is expected to break down existing barriers, promote productivity in the real sector, and position Nigeria as a leading manufacturing power in Africa.
He called on all stakeholders, including the private sector and state governments, to work together to unlock financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), revive abandoned industrial areas, and build business-friendly clusters across the country.
During the session, the Council reviewed 75 memoranda, which included 40 information items and 30 recommendations aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s industrial and trade agenda. The event, themed “Accelerating Diversification by Leveraging Industry, Trade and Investment for Shared Prosperity,” focused on turning policy into action.
“This council is not just another policy gathering,” Enoh said. “It is a clarion call to transform ambition into action. We stand on the edge of a new industrial dawn. The time to act is not tomorrow, it is now.”
The minister outlined five key pillars of the IRWG which will drive the industrialisation process: Financing and Investment Transformation, Energy and Infrastructure Modernisation, Regulatory Reforms and Ease of Doing Business, Product Standards and Market Expansion, and Human Capital Development and Industrial Innovation.
He noted that these are not theoretical plans, but real programmes already taking shape across Nigeria.
Senator Enoh urged the private sector and state governments to take full advantage of the momentum, describing the IRWG as an opportunity to turn Nigeria’s economic potential into visible industrial success.
