The federal government has renewed efforts to transform Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) into drivers of exports and employment, in a bid to expand the country’s export footprint.

The minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the Nigeria Economic Zones Association (NEZA) on Thursday in Abuja.

Mrs Oduwole reaffirmed the government’s resolve to fast-track reforms that would strengthen the performance of SEZs, enhance investor confidence, and expand Nigeria’s export footprint.

She stressed the importance of collaboration, urging stakeholders to actively shape policies and legislative frameworks that will define the future of the sector.

According to her, “our focus is on building a sustainable legacy of reforms that will unlock exports, create jobs, and improve the competitiveness of our economic zones.”

Mrs Oduwole noted that ongoing reviews of regulatory frameworks were aimed at eliminating inefficiencies and ensuring that SEZs operate as globally competitive hubs.

She emphasised that aligning incentives with national economic priorities remained central to achieving tangible results.

The permanent secretary of the ministry, Chris Isokpunwu, described the meeting as a strategic step toward deeper partnership, commending NEZA’s contributions and encouraging continued knowledge-sharing to support policy development.

Speaking, the chairman of NEZA, Nabil Saleh, said the visit was designed to strengthen dialogue on repositioning Nigeria’s SEZs to better support industrialisation and export growth.

Ms Saleh acknowledged Nigeria’s strong economic potential and identified coordination gaps and procedural delays as major constraints to sector growth.

“With better coordination, clear dispute resolution processes, and measurable performance tracking, Nigeria’s SEZs can become globally competitive destinations for investment,” he said.

The meeting highlighted a shared commitment by government and the private sector to accelerate reforms, improve implementation, and reposition Nigeria’s economic zones for sustainable growth and expanded international trade.

 (NAN)