The Federal Government has initiated a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s trade and investment strategies, as well as infrastructure planning, aimed at enhancing the country’s economic competitiveness.
The review took place during a session of the Economic Management Team (EMT), chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, in Abuja.
The move underscored the government’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as a competitive, investor-friendly economy through coordinated policy reforms and diplomatic engagement.
A key highlight of the meeting was a comprehensive presentation by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, who outlined the Ministry’s current strategic priorities. These include strengthening investor retention, accelerating export diversification, and tackling regulatory inefficiencies that impede private sector growth.
A major point of discussion was Nigeria’s ongoing engagement with the United States, following a recent proposal by the U.S. Trade Representative to impose a 14 percent tariff on Nigerian exports.
The Economic Management Team (EMT) examined the legal and commercial implications of this development, as well as Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts in Washington and multilateral engagements during the U.S.-Africa CEO Forum held in Abidjan.
Also during the session, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, presented an updated budget framework and outlined key infrastructure priorities. These include logistics enhancements and a pipeline of projects aimed at reducing trade bottlenecks and improving Nigeria’s overall trade facilitation capacity.
The EMT reaffirmed its unified commitment to implementing transparent, market-driven reforms that stimulate private sector growth, boost non-oil exports, and drive long-term, sustainable economic development across the country.
In his closing remarks, Edun emphasized the importance of cross-ministerial coordination, stating, “Now is the time for unified action.
“By aligning our trade posture with global best practice and ensuring policy consistency, we can unlock greater opportunities for businesses and deepen investor confidence in Nigeria.”
