President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Government to accelerate the implementation of Nigeria’s Digital Free Zones initiative, with the programme designed to attract international investment, create jobs and enable Nigerian technology companies to compete globally while operating from the country.
The initiative is intended to make it easier for Nigerian technology and service-based businesses to access international capital, expand into foreign markets and retain their companies and intellectual property within Nigeria rather than relocating abroad.
President Tinubu said the policy would also open more opportunities for Nigerians to work remotely for international companies without having to leave the country.
According to the President, Nigeria possesses the human capital, entrepreneurial drive and market needed to develop globally competitive technology businesses, but government must create an environment that allows local entrepreneurs to realise that potential domestically.
The President has therefore directed the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, who serves as Vice-Chairman and Implementation Coordinator of the Presidential Steering Committee on Digital Free Zones, to collaborate with the Itana Innovation project and other members of the committee to develop a roadmap for the full launch of the initiative within 180 days.
The Digital Free Zones programme represents an effort to modernise Nigeria’s free-zone framework, which was originally designed decades ago and is now being adapted to address the requirements of the digital economy.
President Tinubu said the government wants Nigerian-founded businesses to be capable of raising funds internationally while maintaining their headquarters, intellectual property and economic activities in Nigeria.
He also highlighted the potential for the initiative to strengthen the country’s professional services sector by creating demand for Nigerian engineers, software developers, designers, lawyers, accountants and other specialists supporting technology-driven companies.
The programme is already gaining practical expression through Itana, which has been licensed by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) as a digital special economic zone. Itana provides infrastructure and business-support services for technology and service-oriented companies seeking to establish operations in Nigeria and expand across African and international markets.
The Itana Innovation project at Alaro City in Lagos is also expected to serve as an important component of the emerging digital ecosystem. The project is backed by the Africa Finance Corporation and is designed to combine digital infrastructure, business services, access to capital and an innovation-focused environment for companies operating across Africa.
Beyond creating technology parks, the Federal Government’s broader ambition is to make Nigeria a base from which African companies can be incorporated, financed, managed and scaled for international markets.
The policy could also expand remote employment opportunities for Nigerians in different parts of the country. Rather than requiring skilled workers to relocate overseas, the initiative seeks to support a model where professionals can serve international businesses while remaining in Nigeria.
President Tinubu said the government wants digital businesses to generate greater economic value within Nigeria through employment, investment, professional services, intellectual property ownership and the growth of local enterprises.
The Presidential Steering Committee is expected to continue work on several areas critical to the success of the programme, including regulation, taxation, banking, immigration, arbitration and the digitalisation of government services within the free-zone framework.
The initiative is also being positioned within the broader expansion of Africa’s digital economy and the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
If successfully implemented, the Digital Free Zones framework could provide Nigerian and other African technology companies with a more structured environment for establishing businesses, accessing international markets and scaling their operations while maintaining a stronger connection to the Nigerian economy.
For the Tinubu administration, the programme represents another component of its digital-economy agenda, with the stated objective of converting Nigeria’s large pool of technology talent into investment, employment and export opportunities.
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The government is now expected to use the 180-day roadmap period to address the regulatory and institutional requirements necessary for the full rollout of the Digital Free Zones initiative.
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