The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has formally urged the European Union to incorporate Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) into European supply chains, proposing a strategic partnership to enhance bilateral trade and industrialisation. The appeal was made by NEPZA Managing Director Olufemi Ogunyemi during a high-level meeting with European diplomats and officials in Abuja.
Ogunyemi framed the proposal as a timely response to reshaping global economics, arguing that Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones present ready-made platforms for deepened EU-Africa cooperation. He noted a shift in the international order from stable, rules-based systems toward one influenced by geopolitical tensions and supply chain fragilities. In this context, Nigeria’s SEZs offer the EU a viable avenue to diversify partnerships and reinforce economic resilience—a priority increasingly echoed in European policy circles.
The NEPZA head highlighted alignment between the EU’s push for “strategic autonomy” and Nigeria’s SEZ framework, which incentivises manufacturing, processing, and export-oriented industries. He suggested that active European participation in Nigeria’s zone corridors could mitigate supply chain concentration risks while channeling investment into West Africa’s growing markets.
A key point in Ogunyemi’s presentation was the persistent structural imbalance in EU-Africa trade. While total goods trade reached nearly €355 billion in 2024, with services exceeding €100 billion, Africa’s export profile remains heavily skewed toward raw materials. This reliance on primary commodities, he warned, stifles industrial growth, limits job creation, and threatens long-term supply chain sustainability. Targeted SEZ investment, he argued, could promote value addition, technology transfer, and a more equitable trade architecture.
The meeting, held at the European House, was attended by ambassadors of EU member states, European Commission representatives, and officials from the European External Action Service. It underscored mutual interest in moving beyond traditional donor-recipient dynamics toward a partnership centred on shared industrial and supply chain goals.
By integrating Nigerian SEZs into European value chains, both regions could advance parallel objectives: the EU would gain compliant, growth-oriented production hubs, while Nigeria could accelerate industrialisation and economic diversification. The proposal now awaits formal engagement from European stakeholders, with NEPZA positioning itself as a central conduit for this prospective collaboration.
