Nigeria to understudy Benin industrialisation model

Vice President Kashim Shettima has led a high-level Nigerian delegation, comprising six state governors, on a study visit to the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone in the Republic of Benin as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to accelerate industrialisation, boost manufacturing, and attract greater investment into Nigeria.

The delegation visited the industrial hub to understake a firsthand assessment of its development model, operational framework, and investment ecosystem, with the aim of identifying strategies that can be adapted to support Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation agenda.

The visit forms part of the Federal Government’s broader drive to strengthen the country’s manufacturing base, promote value addition in agriculture, expand exports, and create sustainable employment opportunities through industrial development.

During the tour, the Nigerian delegation was briefed on the establishment, governance structure, infrastructure, and investment incentives that have enabled the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone to attract local and international investors in sectors such as agro-processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and light manufacturing.

Officials explained how the industrial zone has leveraged modern infrastructure, investor-friendly policies, efficient logistics, and public-private partnerships to stimulate industrial production and export-oriented manufacturing.

Speaking during the visit, Vice President Shettima said Nigeria remains committed to creating an enabling environment for industrial growth and investment, noting that learning from successful models within the region would help shape policies capable of unlocking the country’s vast economic potential.

He stressed the importance of collaboration among federal and state governments in driving industrial development, adding that subnational governments have a critical role to play in providing infrastructure, improving the ease of doing business, and attracting private sector investment.

The governors accompanying the Vice President also expressed optimism that lessons from the Benin industrial zone could be replicated in Nigeria to establish more competitive industrial parks and special economic zones capable of supporting manufacturing and agricultural processing.

Industry stakeholders said the study tour underscores Nigeria’s determination to diversify its economy away from crude oil dependence by strengthening value-added production, expanding agro-industrial activities, and increasing non-oil exports.

Analysts noted that well-planned industrial zones can serve as catalysts for economic growth by attracting investment, promoting technology transfer, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and generating large-scale employment.

They added that improved industrial infrastructure would enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), enabling domestic manufacturers to access larger regional markets.

Experts also emphasized that adopting global and regional best practices in industrial zone management could improve operational efficiency, encourage export-oriented manufacturing, and strengthen supply chains across key sectors of the economy.

The visit is expected to foster closer economic cooperation between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin while providing valuable insights into policies and institutional frameworks that have contributed to the success of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone.

As Nigeria continues to pursue its industrialisation agenda, stakeholders believe the lessons from the Benin Republic model could help shape future investments in industrial parks, agro-processing hubs, and manufacturing clusters, ultimately boosting economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable growth.