President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, represented by Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has launched Nigeria’s National Halal Economy Strategy, a move aimed at positioning the country to tap into the $7.7 trillion global halal market and further diversify the national economy.
The Vice President described the unveiling of the strategy as a clear signal of Nigeria’s readiness to join other nations already benefiting from the global halal economy, while also defining the country’s direction within a market expected to add an estimated $1.5 billion to Nigeria’s GDP by 2027.
Speaking on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Senator Shettima called for disciplined, inclusive, and measurable action to ensure the strategy delivers jobs, exports, and shared prosperity across the country.
“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,” he said.
“What follows must be action that is disciplined, inclusive, and measurable, so that this Strategy delivers jobs, exports, and shared prosperity across our nation,” the Vice President added.
He announced that the implementation of the strategy would be overseen by a committee chaired by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. “It is going to be chaired by the supremely competent Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,” he stated.
Senator Shettima outlined the clear and measurable ambitions of the strategy, noting that by 2030, Nigeria aims to expand halal-compliant food exports, develop pharmaceutical and cosmetic value chains, position the country as a halal-friendly tourism destination, and mobilise ethical finance at scale.
According to him, these combined efforts are projected to unlock over twelve billion dollars in economic value. He said the strategy would also strengthen food security, deepen industrial capacity, and create opportunities for small-and-medium-sized enterprises across different states of the federation.
Addressing concerns linking halal solely with religious affiliation, the Vice President stressed that the global halal economy has moved beyond narrow interpretations. He explained that halal today is no longer defined only by faith, but by trust.
“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,” he said.
“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,” Shettima added.
The Vice President noted that many advanced Western economies have recognised the commercial and ethical appeal of the halal economy and have integrated it into their export and quality assurance systems. He listed countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand as leading producers, certifiers, and exporters of halal food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and financial products.
According to him, the experience of these countries confirms a simple truth. “The halal economy is a global market framework rooted in standards, safety, and consumer trust, not geography or belief,” he said.
Senator Shettima explained that the Nigeria National Halal Economy Strategy is the result of careful study and reflection, inspired by the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to diversify exports, attract foreign direct investment, and create sustainable jobs across the federation.
“It is also the product of deliberate partnership, developed with the Halal Products Development Company, a subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, alongside Dar Al Halal Group Nigeria, with technical backing from institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa,” he said.
He recalled that President Tinubu’s recent state visit to the Republic of Türkiye further reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to building a globally competitive halal ecosystem. A major outcome of that visit was the signing of an Agreement in the Field of Halal Quality Infrastructure between Nigeria and Türkiye.
The agreement, according to him, is aimed at strengthening standards, accreditation, certification, and quality assurance systems to enhance international acceptance of Nigerian halal products and services.
Commenting on the unveiling, the Chairperson of the National Halal Strategy Committee and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the launch of the Nigeria National Halal Strategy reflects strong public-private collaboration driven by extensive engagement with stakeholders.
She explained that the private sector led the process, ensuring the strategy emerged as a whole-of-government and whole-of-country intervention. She added that the Office of the Vice President coordinated all ministries, departments, and agencies involved, while the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment played a central role.
According to the minister, the strategy positions Nigeria among countries that export halal-certified goods across the world. “What the Halal Strategy has done for Nigeria is to position us among countries that export Halal-certified goods across the world,” she said.
“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.
Dr. Oduwole assured that as chairperson, her ministry would deliver on the objectives of the strategy for the prosperity of the nation.
Earlier, the Chairman and CEO of Dar Al-Halal Group Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Ladan, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between the Halal Products Development Company and his group in developing the National Halal Economy Strategy.
He said that beyond the strategy, an export programme is already underway in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, which will enable Nigerian companies to be onboarded into the Saudi Arabian market and other international markets.
Ladan described the strategy as a landmark opportunity for Nigeria, noting that it would create market access for local businesses and attract foreign direct investment into the country.
Also speaking at the event, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, represented by Carole Lebreton, Financial Counsellor at the French Embassy in Nigeria, said the Halal Strategy is important to Nigeria–France relations.
She noted that the French government is exploring additional ways to build stronger socio-economic bridges with Nigeria and stands ready to support Nigeria’s export drive, particularly in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by members of the Nigerian delegation, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mrs Nonye Ayeni; the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr Olasupo Olusi; and the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitola Adekunle Johnson, among others.
The strategy was developed by the Halal Products Development Company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund. It is an outcome of the bilateral cooperation agreement signed between Nigeria and HPDC in February 2025 at the Makkah Halal Forum.
The collaboration seeks to deepen Nigeria–Saudi Arabia economic relations while leveraging HPDC’s global reach to attract investment, improve market access, and integrate Nigeria into international halal value chains.
