By Joy Onu
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) has adopted a 2026 implementation roadmap and signed strategic performance agreements aimed at accelerating industrial growth, expanding trade and attracting more investments as part of efforts to support Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy target.
The decisions were reached at the end of the ministry’s two-day 2026 Top Management Retreat in Abuja, where ministers, senior management staff, heads of agencies and development partners reviewed the ministry’s priorities and agreed on performance targets for the coming year.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the ministry’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Augustina Okechi, the performance agreements were signed between the ministers and chief executives of agencies, as well as between the Permanent Secretary and directors, while participants also endorsed a communiqué outlining key policy actions and implementation priorities for 2026.
Speaking at the closing session, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the agreements underscore the ministry’s resolve to strengthen accountability and ensure that government policies translate into measurable economic outcomes.
She said the ministry would focus on improving coordination, deepening collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders and implementing programmes capable of stimulating industrial development, increasing trade competitiveness and attracting investment.
The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan-Enoh, said the success of the country’s industrial agenda would be measured by stronger local industries, higher productivity, increased exports and improved investor confidence.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, urged departments and agencies to align their budgets and programmes with national development priorities, stressing that effective monitoring and accountability would be critical to achieving expected results.
Also, the Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Iya Ibrahim Gamawa, emphasised the importance of strategic planning and performance management in delivering the ministry’s mandate.
The communiqué adopted at the retreat identified priority areas for the coming year, including improved investment facilitation, export promotion, support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), enhanced service delivery and stronger coordination across the ministry and its agencies.
Development partners, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry reaffirmed their support for the ministry’s reform agenda.
Participants also pledged to work towards increasing investments, establishing new industries and factories, expanding exports, creating jobs and strengthening domestic value addition in line with the economic objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
