The federal government on Sunday intensified its push to rebuild local industry, asking private companies to partner with public authorities to scale up manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports. The appeal, reported by The Nation newspaper on October 5, 2025, came amid deteriorating external balances and persistent unemployment, and was framed as an urgent economic and security priority.

Speaking at a private-sector forum in Abuja, a senior presidential adviser said the administration would roll out a package of incentives to mobilize capital and reduce obstacles for manufacturers. "We need industry to step forward so that we can convert our natural and human resources into sustainable jobs," the adviser told attendees. He outlined measures the government plans to prioritize, including tax holidays for new factory projects, concessional credit lines for exporters and mechanisms to ease access to foreign exchange for import-dependent inputs.

Government officials emphasized that the initiative is not protectionist isolation but a calibrated industrial strategy. "This is about competitiveness, not closure," one ministry source said. "We are seeking investment, technology transfer and higher local content in sectors from textiles to processed foods and pharmaceuticals." The source noted that Nigeria’s import bill runs into the tens of billions annually and that substituting even a fraction of that with homegrown production could have outsized macroeconomic benefits.

Leaders from the private sector welcomed the overture but urged concrete timelines and an improved business climate. A spokesman for a national manufacturers’ grouping said members needed predictable power, streamlined customs procedures and clarity on regulatory incentives before committing major capital. "Capital follows certainty," he said. "We want to scale, but the government must reduce administrative bottlenecks and guarantee policy continuity."

Analysts say the government’s push reflects broader global trends. After COVID-era supply shocks and renewed geopolitical tensions in Asia and Europe, many countries are seeking to re-shore key industries or diversify supply chains. For Nigeria, with Africa’s largest population and a strategic position in West Africa, success could stimulate regional value chains and strengthen the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) market.

Legal and diplomatic constraints will shape how aggressive the program can be. Trade experts caution that measures favoring domestic producers should be calibrated to respect Nigeria’s obligations under the World Trade Organization and the African Continental Free Trade Area. "There is room for industrial policy, but it requires smart design to avoid trade disputes and to attract foreign direct investment," a trade law specialist said.

Small and medium enterprises will be central to any transformation, officials acknowledged. The government highlighted plans for technical assistance and local-content requirements aimed at integrating local suppliers into larger manufacturing value chains. Observers note that success will hinge on coordinated reforms across fiscal policy, energy, infrastructure and education.

As Abuja moves from rhetoric to implementation, international investors and trade partners will be watching closely. The degree to which Nigeria can convert policy promises into reliable support structures will determine whether this initiative simply reshuffles existing economic dynamics or catalyzes a sustained industrial revival with ripple effects across the region.