{
  "id": 8115332,
  "title": "Tinubu moves to implement Digital Free Zones",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/tinubu-moves-to-implement-digital-free-zones",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T21:45:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/tinubu-moves-to-implement-digital-free-zones/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is advancing Nigeria's Digital Free Zones initiative to its next stage, aiming to draw in international capital, boost employment opportunities for Nigerians, and enable local businesses to thrive in international markets without relocating their operations abroad. According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, the initiative will also generate prospects for more young Nigerians to work for global corporations from within Nigeria.\n\nThe President emphasized that Nigeria possesses the requisite talent, enterprise, and ambition to create companies capable of competing globally. He stated that it is the government's responsibility to ensure that Nigerians do not need to leave the country or rely on foreign jurisdictions to realize this potential. Tinubu further expressed his desire for the next generation of African technology, finance, and service companies to be established, headquartered, and scaled from Nigerian soil.\n\nThe government seeks to retain a greater share of the economic value generated by Nigerian talent through jobs, investment, professional services, intellectual property, and the expansion of Nigerian businesses. To this end, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has been tasked with collaborating with the Itana Innovation project and the Presidential Steering Committee on Digital Free Zones to develop a roadmap for the full launch of the initiative within 180 days.\n\nThe Digital Free Zones initiative is already underway with the licensing of Nigeria's first Digital Free Zone, Itana, by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). This platform will cater to global and pan-African digital and service businesses seeking to establish and operate from Nigeria. The Africa Finance Corporation is providing backing of $500 million for the Itana Innovation project, which will create an enabling policy environment, innovation campus, access to capital, and ecosystem services aimed at helping African startups scale and retain more of the value they create on the continent.\n\nPresident Tinubu's vision extends beyond the development of technology parks. He expressed his aspiration for African companies to be incorporated, financed, and governed in Nigeria while serving markets across Africa and the world. The Presidential Steering Committee will continue its work across various domains, such as regulation, taxation, banking, immigration, arbitration, and the digitization of government processes within Nigeria's free zones. Tinubu believes that the initiative will position Nigeria to capitalize on the rapid expansion of Africa's digital economy and the growth of digitally enabled trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.",
  "summary": "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has moved to implement Nigeria’s Digital Free Zones initiative to its next phase, a rise in global capital, employment opportunities for Nigerians and help local businesses build for international markets without moving their businesses and intellectual property abroad. A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}