The strategy was unveiled on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event. According to a statement from the Presidency, the launch signals Nigeria’s intent to align with global halal standards and unlock new economic opportunities across multiple sectors.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shettima described the policy as a clear declaration of Nigeria’s readiness to compete in a global halal economy already being leveraged by several leading nations. He explained that the strategy provides a structured roadmap for Nigeria’s entry into halal markets spanning food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, logistics, tourism, and finance.
The Vice President noted that the initiative reflects the government’s determination to convert Nigeria’s production capacity into sustainable economic value by meeting internationally accepted halal certification and quality benchmarks. He stressed that beyond policy formulation, success would depend on effective 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,” Shettima said.
He added that the next phase must focus on translating the strategy into tangible outcomes, particularly in job creation, export growth, and inclusive prosperity. According to him, implementation must be disciplined, inclusive, and measurable to ensure the policy delivers real economic benefits nationwide.
To drive execution, Shettima disclosed that implementation of the National Halal Economy Strategy will be chaired by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole.
The launch builds on earlier commitments by the Tinubu administration to develop a globally competitive halal ecosystem. In January, during President Tinubu’s visit to the Republic of Türkiye, Nigeria signed an Agreement in the Field of Halal Quality Infrastructure with the Turkish government. The agreement focuses on strengthening standards, accreditation, certification, and quality assurance systems to improve international acceptance of Nigerian halal products and services.
The federal government had first announced plans to introduce a national halal strategy in 2024, projecting at the time that increased halal exports and targeted import substitution could contribute nearly $1.5 billion to GDP by 2027. That projection was reiterated by Aliyu Sheriff, Special Assistant to the President on Export Expansion, who described the halal economy as a major opportunity for foreign exchange generation and sustainable growth.
The halal economy refers to a global system of goods, services, and investments that comply with Islamic law. While often associated with food, it extends into pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, modest fashion, tourism, and Islamic finance, with a strong emphasis on ethical, hygienic, and sustainable practices. With established global hubs in countries such as Malaysia, Brazil, and Australia, the sector has become an increasingly important driver of international trade.
By launching a coordinated national strategy, the Tinubu administration is betting that Nigeria can claim a meaningful share of this market—leveraging its population, production base, and export potential to diversify the economy and strengthen its position in global trade.