Abuja: The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has expressed its commitment to creating a sustainable environment for the private sector and other stakeholders to compete favorably and drive economic growth and productivity. Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, made this commitment at a retreat for the presentation of the 2025 roadmap in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oduwole emphasized that the ministry’s goal is to facilitate the creation of wealth, productive jobs, and shared prosperity for all Nigerians. “As a ministry, we prioritize creating a dynamic, resilient, and sustainable economy by positioning the private sector for productivity and competitiveness,” she stated. She further highlighted that the ministry has repositioned itself to deliver empirically verifiable policies and reforms based on transparently laid down goals, which improved its performance in 2024.
The minister assured that all the activities presented at the retreat by the agencies under the ministry are already included in the budget, thus not coming as a surprise. She urged all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to collaborate to achieve the ministry’s objectives.
Senator John Enoh, the Minister of State, remarked that the gathering was intended to discuss existing challenges and explore solutions. He noted that the retreat would assist in evaluating how the industry and trade sectors can expand and improve to promote investments. “It is about performance. The work cannot be strong and efficient without effective commitment. I think we all need to be ready for that,” he commented.
Princess Audu, the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, affirmed the council’s dedication to engaging with stakeholders to intensify business activities. She announced the launch of a new Reform Impact Assessment (RIA) framework, aiming to ensure consistency and predictability, helping businesses grow appropriately.
Ambassador Yonov Agah, the Director-General and Chief Trade Negotiator of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN), mentioned that the office is focused on expanding market access and eliminating trade barriers for Nigeria. He stressed the importance of negotiating based on national frameworks and the need for institutions and regulatory environments to implement agreements effectively.