The Federal Government has signed a cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Halal Products Development Company to establish Nigeria as a leading player in the global halal market valued at $7.7 trillion.
The agreement will facilitate investment, technical cooperation, and market access across key sectors, including food production, pharmaceuticals, finance, and livestock for both countries.
Speaking on Wednesday, during the signing ceremony at the Makkah Halal Forum in Saudi Arabia, Vice President (VP) Kashim Shettima said the partnership represents a game-changing opportunity to transform Nigeria into a global halal economy powerhouse.
Senior Special Assistant to the VP on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this development in a statement he signed Thursday titled ‘Nigeria signs pact with Saudi Arabia to boost $7.7 trillion Halal economy’.
Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said, ‘This collaboration is an important step in our ambition to not only tap into the lucrative halal market but to establish Nigeria as a leading global player.
‘We are committed to leveraging this collaboration to create jobs, attract foreign investment, and diversify our economy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’.
The agreement was executed with HPDC, a subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Fahad Alnuhait, in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi; Chairman of the Makkah Halal Forum’s Organising Committee, His Excellency Mr. Fawaz bin Talal Al-Harbi, and Chairman of Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, His Excellency Mr. Abdullah bin Saleh Kamel.
On his part, the Special Assistant to the President on Export Promotion, Aliyu Sheriff, said the partnership builds on Nigeria’s growing Islamic finance sector, which has seen success through Sukuk bonds for infrastructure financing and the establishment of Islamic banks like Jaiz Bank, Taj Bank, and Lotus Bank.
Sheriff explained that the Islamic Development Bank and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa will support the initiative through capacity building, regulatory framework development, and financing opportunities.
‘This agreement aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda by creating new jobs, attracting foreign direct investment, and diversifying our economy.
‘The halal economy extends beyond Muslim consumers. Non-Muslim majority countries like Brazil, Australia, and Thailand are already leveraging the sector for substantial export growth’, he said.
The Nigerian delegation also included the Chairman of Dar Al Halal Group, Alhaji Muhammadu Ladan Dikko; the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bank of Industry, Dr. Mansur Muhtar; Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole who was represented by Nura Rimi; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, represented by Mahmoud Lele, and Representative of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Hajiya Amina.
Others are the Chairman, Nigeria-Saudi Chamber of Commerce, Ibrahim Usman; Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, represented by Nur Muftau Baba Ahmed; CEO of Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Aneyi, represented by Mustapha Aminu; Deputy President of NACCIMA, Jani Ibrahim, and Managing Director of Bank of Industry, Mr. Olasupo Olusi, represented by Mrs. Jelilat Ismaila-Ayinde.
Shettima during the Halal Economy Stakeholders Engagement Programme held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in September last year emphasised the economic potential of the sector, noting that ‘increasing Nigeria’s halal exports to OIC markets from 2 per cent to 6 per cent could boost the country’s GDP by $540 million, while strategic import substitution could add nearly $1 billion by 2027.
