Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones delivered a major boost in 2025, generating more than $500 million in export earnings and creating over 20,000 direct jobs, according to the nation’s trade ministry. The gains reflect sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening industrial capacity, expanding non-oil exports, and restoring investor confidence. These zones helped power a wider export surge, with non-oil shipments jumping 21% to $12.8 billion in the first half of the year, far above government targets and contributing to a sizable trade surplus. Value-added goods like cocoa derivatives, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, and fertilizers drove this surge. Supported by government-sponsored exporter training, women-focused funding, and renewed foreign investment interest, the results signal steady progress toward diversifying Africa’s largest economy beyond oil.
Business Insider
