Lagos moves to reposition as Africa’s foremost leader with new industrial policy
By Adeola Ogunrinde
The Lagos State Government has concluded arrangements to launch its Lagos State Industrial Policy (2025–2030), a strategic blueprint aimed at positioning the state as a leading industrial hub in Africa.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, disclosed this at a press briefing held on Monday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, describing the policy as the most ambitious industrial agenda ever conceived by the state.
She announced that the policy will be formally unveiled on Thursday, April 30, 2026, marking a significant milestone under the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. According to her, Lagos, widely regarded as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and West Africa’s financial hub, is leveraging its economic strength to drive a new phase of industrial growth aligned with global trends.
Furthermore, Ambrose-Medebem explained that the policy provides a structured roadmap to accelerate development across priority sectors such as agro-processing, light manufacturing, the creative economy, healthcare, the blue economy, and digital trade.
She noted that the initiative is designed to address longstanding challenges, including infrastructure deficits, supply chain inefficiencies, and regulatory bottlenecks, while also strengthening industrial clusters, improving access to finance, and enhancing the ease of doing business in the state.
In addition, the commissioner emphasised that small and medium-sized enterprises will be central to the policy’s implementation, describing them as critical to Lagos’ economic resilience and growth.
She also highlighted that innovation, technology adoption, and human capital development will drive the policy, positioning Lagos at the forefront of Africa’s transition to a knowledge-based digital industrial economy, while assuring that environmental sustainability will be prioritised through proper waste management and emissions control.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Babatunde Onigbanjo, described the policy as an inclusive framework developed through extensive stakeholder consultations, adding that mechanisms will be put in place after its launch to ensure effective implementation, continuous improvement, and accountability.
