Lagos Targets Industrial Revolution Through Chinese Manufacturers
By Sherif Salau
Lagos State is intensifying efforts to attract Chinese manufacturers to establish factories and assembly plants, in a strategic push to create jobs, boost local production and expand economic opportunities for residents. At the opening of the 2026 China Commodities Expo-Nigeria in Victoria Island, the state government delivered a clear invitation to Chinese manufacturers: set up production and assembly facilities in Lagos and partner with Nigerian businesses to manufacture and export rather than simply sell finished goods.
The message was delivered by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Speaking at the Landmark Event Centre, she conveyed the state’s position that Nigerian businesses must move beyond importing finished products and instead pursue assembly, manufacturing and export partnerships with Chinese enterprises. Chinese manufacturers considering where to locate their next production or assembly plant, she indicated, would find Lagos a compelling destination.
Officials pointed to concrete advantages the state is working to strengthen. These include the Lekki Deep Sea Port, ongoing investments in roads and logistics infrastructure, and the Lagos State Electricity Law of 2024, which established a regulatory framework intended to improve power supply for industry. Lagos also ranked first in the 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council’s subnational ease-of-doing-business assessment with a score of 85.6 per cent, though the government acknowledged that practical challenges for investors still require further attention.
Priority sectors highlighted for investment include electronics, electrical equipment, machinery, automotive components, agro-processing, textiles and renewable energy. Partnerships that bring Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises into the value chain were singled out as especially important. The broader ambition is consistent with the Lagos State Industrial Policy 2025–2030, which seeks to raise manufacturing’s contribution to the state’s economy and position Lagos as a leading industrial hub in Africa.
The Commissioner’s appearance at the expo underscored the state’s dual commitment: welcoming legitimate foreign investment while supporting the growth and competitiveness of indigenous enterprises. Commercial disagreements, the government noted, should be resolved through dialogue, fair competition and respect for the law, with Chinese firms encouraged to engage local business associations constructively.
For a city facing rapid population growth and the need for large-scale formal employment, the stakes are high. Manufacturing offers one of the most direct pathways to jobs, skills transfer and reduced dependence on imports. Whether the invitation results in new factory floors and payrolls will depend on reliable power, predictable regulation and competitive logistics. Lagos has set out its case. Chinese manufacturers now have a clearer sense of the opportunity—and the expectation that accompanies it.
