President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Government to develop a roadmap for the full launch of Nigeria’s Digital Free Zones initiative within 180 days.
The initiative is aimed at making it easier for Nigerian technology and service companies to raise global capital, employ Nigerians and build for international markets.
In a statement released on Thursday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu directed the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, to develop the roadmap.
Oduwole, who is Vice-Chairman and Implementation Coordinator of the Presidential Steering Committee on Digital Free Zones, will work with the Itana Innovation project and the committee on the plan.
Tinubu said Nigeria has the talent, enterprise and ambition to build companies capable of competing globally, adding that Nigerians should not have to leave the country or rely on other jurisdictions to realise that potential.
The President said the government wants more of the economic value created by Nigerian talent to remain in the country through jobs, investment, professional services, intellectual property and growing Nigerian businesses.
Tinubu said he wants the next generation of African technology, finance and service companies to be built, headquartered and scaled globally from Nigeria.
The initiative is already taking shape through Itana, which the Presidency described as Nigeria’s first Digital Free Zone.
According to the statement, Itana has been licensed by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and provides a platform for global and pan-African digital and service businesses to establish and operate from Nigeria.
The Africa Finance Corporation is backing the $500 million Itana Innovation project at Alaro City in Lagos.
The project will combine an enabling policy environment with an innovation campus, access to capital and ecosystem services designed to help African startups build at scale and retain more of the value they create on the continent, the statement said.
Tinubu said the administration’s ambition goes beyond developing technology parks.
He also said he wants young Nigerians in cities including Kano, Enugu, Warri, Minna, Maiduguri and Ibadan to be able to work for global companies without leaving home.
The Digital Free Zones initiative builds on earlier government and private-sector efforts to position Nigeria as a base for digital businesses and an exporter of digital services.
The latest move comes as the Federal Government expands its focus on exporting Nigerian talent and services. In August 2026, the government launched the “Hire from Nigeria” campaign, targeting one million export-linked jobs over five years by connecting Nigerian professionals with international employers while allowing them to work from the country.
Nigeria is increasingly looking to services and talent exports as a source of economic growth, as the country seeks to participate more actively in the global digital economy.
The Federal Executive Council had earlier approved the National Coordination Mechanism for Services Exports in November 2025 to improve coordination among government agencies working to expand Nigeria’s services exports.
