The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has called on the European Union (EU) to integrate Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) into European value chains as a strategy to boost industrialisation, economic growth, and shared prosperity.
According to a statement issued by Martins Odeh, Head of Corporate Communications, NEPZA, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, made the call on Monday during a trade and investment facilitation meeting held at the European House in Abuja.
Dr. Ogunyemi said Nigeria’s Free Zones, operating under NEPZA’s strategic framework, offer viable platforms for strengthening EU–Nigeria economic cooperation at a time of significant shifts in the global economic order.
Speaking at the meeting, he noted that as the world transitions from a predictable, rules-based system to one shaped by shifting alliances and economic pressures, the European Union should increasingly leverage Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones to deepen existing partnerships and build more resilient supply chains.
The NEPZA boss observed that recent EU policy directions emphasise economic independence, diversification, and strategic partnerships, adding that Nigeria’s SEZs align with this vision by offering opportunities for value addition, industrial expansion, and market access within West Africa.
He explained that increased European investment along Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones corridors would help reduce overconcentration of dependency, safeguard critical supply chains, and stimulate economic activity in fast-growing regions of the sub-region.
Dr. Ogunyemi further acknowledged the EU’s position as Africa’s leading trade and investment partner, noted that trade in goods between both continents reached nearly €355 billion in 2024, while trade in services exceeded €100 billion. However, he cautioned that Africa’s continued dependence on raw material exports remains a shared strategic challenge.
According to him, overreliance on primary commodities without substantial value addition constrained industrial growth, limited human capital development, and threatens the long-term sustainability of EU–Africa supply chains, stressing that targeted investment in Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones could help correct these imbalances.
The meeting was attended by ambassadors of European nations, heads of delegation of EU Member States, as well as representatives of the European Commission and the European External Action Service.
