MAN DG, Others Proffer Ways To Implement Nigeria’s New Industrial Policy

Key stakeholders in Nigeria’s industrial sector have called for a data-driven approach to implementing the country’s new industrial policy.

They stressed that effective execution, measurable outcomes and strong collaboration between the public and private sectors will determine whether the policy achieves its objectives.

The stakeholders spoke during a high-level panel discussion at the just-concluded Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Summit, where policymakers, business executives and industry leaders assessed the implications of the policy for industrial development, trade and investment promotion.

The session, moderated by Nancy Illoh-Nnaji, anchor and producer of MoneyLine on AIT, featured the director-general of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir; vice president, Corporate and Government Relations at OLAM Agri, Ade Adefeko; director of Corporate Affairs at TGI Group, Sadiq Kassim and the director of Industry and Investment in the Nasarawa State Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, Catherine John Baco.

A press statement issued by the organisers to journalists explained that during the discussion, Ajayi-Kadir described the policy as the most comprehensive framework introduced since Nigeria’s independence, noting that it provides a clear roadmap for transforming the country’s industrial landscape.

He said the policy identifies priority areas for industrial growth and lays the foundation for improved manufacturing competitiveness.

The MAN DG hinted that a public scorecard to assess implementation progress is expected to be released as part of efforts to ensure accountability.

Also, Adefeko urged the country to move beyond dependence on exporting raw commodities and instead focus on value addition through local processing and manufacturing.

He said that sustainable industrialisation requires measurable targets and regular performance tracking, stressing that policies are only effective when implementation is continuously monitored.

Kassim highlighted early signs of progress under the policy, revealing that Nigeria exported ₦10 billion worth of shea butter and ₦53 billion worth of soya meal during the first quarter of 2026.

He said the figures demonstrate growing confidence in local value addition and processing.

According to him, government policy pronouncements have encouraged companies involved in shea processing and other agro-industrial activities to expand investments in backward integration rather than relying on imports of finished products.

He advocated the establishment of a publicly accessible implementation dashboard with clear milestones and timelines to enable stakeholders monitor progress and hold implementing agencies accountable.

Kassim said although the policy is only a few months old, it has already begun to inspire private sector confidence, adding that sustained implementation, inter-agency coordination and continuous stakeholder engagement would be critical to achieving long-term industrial transformation.

The panelists unanimously agreed that while the industrial policy provides a strong framework for economic diversification, its success will depend on disciplined execution, effective collaboration among government institutions and regular engagement with the private sector.

They also recommended structured quarterly consultations between government and industry players to review progress, address implementation challenges and ensure the policy delivers measurable benefits for industrial growth, trade, investment and job creation across Nigeria.