Hold Us to Timelines – Bada-Ambrose Tasks Media on Scrutiny, Public Accountability.
Lagos State is set to unveil a new Industrial Policy aimed at positioning the state as the industrial hub of Africa within the next decade.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada-Ambrose stated this at a news conference held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
She described the 2025 to 2030 Industrial Policy as the most ambitious industrial agenda ever undertaken by the state, designed to accelerate economic growth and boost industrial development.”
The policy commits the state, industry partners, and financiers to a single, coherent plan to make Lagos the industrial capital of Africa within this decade”.
According to the Commissioner, “the policy aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus agenda, she said, adding that it was shaped from the very first draft to be delivered, not merely declared”.
Speaking on Sectors, Binding Constraints, she said the policy targets sectors where Lagos had natural advantage agro-processing and light manufacturing, creative economy, healthcare and life sciences, blue economy, and digital trade/tech services.
She also said it identifies and sets timelines to address key constraints: power, water, road and rail links, supply chains, regulatory friction, and development of industrial clusters and special economic zones.
“SMEs at the Centre, the most consequential commitment in the Policy is the one we have made to small and medium-sized enterprises,” Bada-Ambrose said, “An industrial policy that does not reach the cooperative is an industrial policy that has failed before it is launched.”
“The policy promises wider SME access to finance, dismantling of regulatory bottlenecks, and technical assistance to help firms formalise, scale, and export” she said.” Already in Delivery, Bada-Ambrose stressed the policy is “already in delivery” through three programmes including LASMECO Fund, Disbursement of the N10bn LASG-BOI Access to Finance for MSMEs through Cooperatives”.
She said “Governor Sanwo-Olu had approved release of five billion Naira state matching fund, BOI has confirmed its share, and Sterling Bank is working with accelerators to select the first beneficiaries. “First disbursements will reach our cooperatives within weeks.”
Imota Light Industrial Park, A 44-unit, purpose-built estate for manufacturers. “Mr. Governor will commission the Park shortly, and the keys will follow,” she said.
“Invest in Lagos Summit 3.0*: Scheduled for June 8-9, 2026 at Eko Hotels, in partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, “It will convert international interest into firm investment commitments that will be tracked, measured, and reported” she said.
Speaking on “Innovation, Sustainability, she the policy puts “innovation, technology adoption, and human capital at the very centre,” with partnerships planned with universities, polytechnics, and research institutions to align skills with industry demand”.
Bada-Ambrose said the policy aligns with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus agenda, which focuses on strategic planning, public-private collaboration, and measurable outcomes.
According to the Commissioner, the policy targets key sectors including agro-processing, manufacturing, the creative industry, healthcare, the blue economy, and digital trade.
The Commissioner emphasised that small and medium-sized enterprises would play a central role, with increased access to finance, simplified regulations, and technical support to help businesses grow and compete globally.
The Lagos State Industrial Policy 2025 to 2030 will be officially launched on Thursday this week with participation expected from investors and key stakeholders.
