WorldStage– The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to industrialisation as a major driver of economic growth and sustainable development in the country.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Owan-Enoh, made this known on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Kebbi, Sen. Umar Abubakar-Tafida, ahead of an official engagement in the state.
Owan-Enoh said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration placed high premium on industrialisation, resulting in the approval of the National Industrial Policy by the Federal Executive Council after decades without a comprehensive national framework.
He said the policy, formally launched in 2026, was aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s industrial sector and promoting local manufacturing across strategic industries.
According to him, one of the major objectives of the policy is to strengthen the automotive industry by creating an enabling environment for its growth and long-term sustainability.
“There was a time when automobile assembly plants operated in different parts of the country, but that has largely become history.
“The objective of this administration is to revitalise the automotive sector and encourage greater local participation in vehicle assembly and related industries.
“A thriving automotive industry also supports the growth of other sectors of the economy, as many countries attained industrialisation through the development of their automotive value chain,” he said.
The minister stressed the need to develop skilled manpower for the sector, saying the ministry was implementing initiatives to build the required technical capacity.
He added that the delegation deemed it appropriate to pay a courtesy visit to the state government before proceeding with its scheduled official engagement.
In his response, Abubakar-Tafida thanked the Federal Government for the visit and commended the ministry for its initiatives aimed at promoting industrial and economic development.
He said the Kebbi Government appreciated the support of the Federal Government and remained committed to partnering relevant agencies to advance programmes that would strengthen the state’s economy and create opportunities for its people.
“We thank you for finding time to visit Kebbi and for the initiatives your ministry is pursuing to enhance industrial development in the country.“We look forward to continued collaboration for the benefit of our state and the nation at large,” he said.
