President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to welcome both local and international investors, emphasizing that the country remains open for business partnerships.
Speaking at the 39th Lagos International Trade Fair, organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the President represented by the Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering a stable, transparent, and investor-friendly environment.
The 2025 edition of the fair, running from November 7 to 16, is showcasing Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and the diversity of global economic collaborations.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria is undergoing restructuring to ensure consistency in policies, respect for contracts, and clear incentives for manufacturers, exporters, and small businesses.
He also announced ongoing efforts to digitize ports, streamline business permits through one-stop shops, modernize tax systems, and improve dispute resolution processes.
“Nigeria is not just a market of over 200 million people,” Tinubu said. “It is a nation of ideas, youthful brilliance, and limitless potential ready to be scaled up.”
Highlighting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the President described it as “the most ambitious economic project in modern Africa,” with a potential market of 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion. He emphasized that Nigeria must not only participate but also lead in driving its success.
“This fair provides the partnerships, conversations, and networks that will take Nigerian products from textiles to technology, cocoa to creative arts to every corner of the continent and beyond,” he added. “Every product made in Nigeria is a statement of confidence, and every partnership formed here is a step toward shared prosperity.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folasade Ambrose-Medebem, said the fair’s theme “Connecting Business, Creating Value” perfectly captures Lagos’s identity as a dynamic hub where innovation meets opportunity.
He described investing in Lagos as investing in a city of over 23 million ambitious, tech-savvy residents and in a government that understands the power of enterprise.
Sanwo-Olu explained that his administration has worked deliberately to strengthen the fundamentals of trade and commerce by simplifying investment procedures, improving land and trade documentation, and ensuring access to transparent data for investors.
He also reaffirmed the state’s support for MSMEs, cooperatives, and inclusive growth. “Our focus is not limited to large-scale investors,” he said. “We are developing innovative financing models that enable businesses to access growth capital and expand market reach.”
The governor emphasized that the Lagos International Trade Fair consistently fosters partnerships leading to new factories, export deals, and job opportunities.
“To our exhibitors and visitors: Lagos is open. Engage, connect, explore, and build. Whether you are here from Ghana or Germany, Japan or Jos, Lagos is your home for commerce,” he declared.
LCCI President, Gabriel Idahosa, described the fair as an incubator for ideas and a catalyst for commerce. He said it provides enterprises with the opportunity to showcase resilience-driven solutions, explore partnerships, and drive sustainable growth across Nigeria and the region.
He commended both federal and state governments for their participation, calling it a demonstration of commitment to empowering the private sector for local production and export growth.
Idahosa encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs to network with international exhibitors, initiate distributorship agreements, and form trade partnerships to diversify their product lines and enhance value chains.
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