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• Shettima says initiative to generate $12bn, boost tourism, exports by 2030
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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday unveiled Nigeria’s National Halal Economy Strategy at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The move, according to a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, targets a share of the $7.7 trillion global halal market to drive economic diversification, projecting an additional $1.5 billion to GDP by 2027.
Shettima stressed Nigeria’s intent to compete globally, urging focused execution.
“It is with this sense of responsibility that I formally unveil the Nigeria National Halal Economy Strategy. This document is a declaration of our promise to meet global standards with Nigerian capacity and to convert opportunity into lasting economic value.
“What follows must be action that is disciplined, inclusive, and measurable, so that this Strategy delivers jobs, exports, and shared prosperity across our nation,” he stated.
“It is going to be chaired by the supremely competent Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,” the Vice President added.
The strategy sets ambitious 2030 goals: expanding halal food exports, building pharmaceutical and cosmetics value chains, establishing Nigeria as a halal tourism hub and scaling ethical finance. Shettima said these steps “are projected to unlock over twelve billion dollars in economic value, while strengthening food security, deepening industrial capacity, and creating opportunities for small-and-medium-sized enterprises across our states.”
Addressing religious misconceptions, the VP clarified the halal market’s broad appeal.
“It is no longer defined solely by faith, but by trust, through systems that emphasise quality, traceability, safety, and ethical production. These principles resonate far beyond any single community.
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“They speak to consumers, investors, and trading partners who increasingly demand certainty in how goods are produced, financed, and delivered. It is within this broader understanding that Nigeria now positions itself.”
He highlighted Western leaders such as the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as top halal players, noting that “the halal economy is a global market framework rooted in standards, safety, and consumer trust, not geography or belief.”
The initiative stems from President Tinubu’s diversification agenda and was developed with Saudi’s Halal Products Development Company (HPDC, a Saudi Public Investment Fund subsidiary), Dar Al Halal Group Nigeria, the Islamic Development Bank and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa. It builds on a February 2025 Nigeria–HPDC pact at the Makkah Halal Forum and a recent Türkiye halal quality agreement signed during Tinubu’s state visit.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and committee chair, Jumoke Oduwole, praised the public–private effort. She noted that the private sector led the design, with the VP’s office coordinating ministries and her ministry driving implementation.
“What the Halal Strategy has done for Nigeria is to position us among countries that export halal-certified goods across the world.
“We are going to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to ensure we export our halal-friendly goods to the rest of Africa and beyond to any willing markets; participation is voluntary,” she added.
Chairman and CEO of Dar Al Halal Group Nigeria, Muhammadu Dikko Ladan, hailed the HPDC collaboration and an upcoming export programme with the Ministry of Trade and Investment for Saudi market entry, describing it as a “landmark opportunity” for access and foreign direct investment.
French Ambassador Marc Fonbaustier, represented by Financial Counsellor Carole Lebreton, affirmed France’s support for Nigeria’s exports in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to strengthen bilateral trade ties.
Those in attendance included Nigerian Export Promotion Council CEO, Nonye Ayeni; Bank of Industry MD, Olasupo Olusi; and Presidential Adviser on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitola Johnson.
