The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI) has outlined plans to deepen trade facilitation, mobilize investment, and tighten policy execution in 2026, building on a strong rebound in capital inflows and export performance in 2025.
According to the FMITI Outlook 2026, the ministry will focus on translating reform momentum into sustained growth, job creation, and export expansion. Minister Dr Jumoke Oduwole highlighted that 2025 marked a turning point in Nigeria’s trade and industrial trajectory, with total capital importation reaching $21bn in the first ten months, up from $12.3bn in 2024.
“The year 2025 was an inflection point for Nigeria’s trade, investment, and industrial journey, marked by deliberate execution, renewed confidence, and a Nigeria First approach to building a credible export economy,” Oduwole said.
Key achievements last year included curating over $5bn in bankable projects, conducting 150 bilateral and investor engagements, convening five deal rooms and sector roundtables, and tracking $50bn in signed commitments from presidential engagements, with roughly 25% progressing toward implementation. Targeted interventions resolved around 50 investor bottlenecks, accelerating project execution timelines.
On trade, Nigeria recorded total trade of N113.03tn between Q1 and Q3 2025, with exports of N66.16tn, marking 11% year-on-year growth. Non-oil exports surpassed $6bn, aided by the gazetting of AfCFTA tariff schedules, the launch of an air cargo corridor to East and Southern Africa, and support for over 100 MSMEs to meet export standards.
The ministry’s 2026 strategy will rest on four pillars:
1. Unlocking global and regional demand through trade facilitation.
2. Strengthening domestic export supply chains.
3. Mobilizing investment through coherent policy execution.
4. Leveraging data, digital tools, and strategic communications.
Planned initiatives include a National MSME Census, Made-in-Nigeria campaign, industrial cluster development, support for women-led businesses, transformation of the cotton, textile, and garment value chain, deployment of AI and digital governance tools, and convening an Industrial Revolution Working Group ministerial roundtable.
Permanent Secretary Nura Rimi emphasized improved inter-agency coordination, streamlined export processes, upgraded ICT platforms, and strengthened accountability mechanisms as key to translating policies into coordinated action.
Minister of State John Enoh highlighted measurable impacts in 2025, including Q3 real GDP growth of 3.98%, driven by non-oil sectors. He underscored that the Nigerian Industrial Policy 2025–2035 provides a unified framework for value chain development, competitiveness, and inclusion.
The Federal Government aims to consolidate gains in 2026 by deepening trade facilitation, boosting domestic production, and enforcing disciplined policy implementation across all levels of government.
