The federal government has announced plans to establish a Nigeria Deal Room aimed at converting investment opportunities into bankable transactions and bridging the gap between investment discussions and actual project execution.
The minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed the initiative on Monday at the opening of the Invest Lagos 3.0 Summit.
According to him, the platform is designed to identify strategic projects, remove regulatory bottlenecks, and connect investors directly with investment-ready opportunities across the country.
“Too often, brilliant opportunities are known but insufficiently prepared. Investors are highly interested but cannot navigate the entry points. Projects exist, but they are not bankable or investment-ready.
“To bridge this gap, the Federal Ministry of Finance is establishing a Nigeria Deal Room to transition from conversation to actual transaction,”he said.
Oyedele explained that the platform would serve as a bridge between project sponsors and investors by improving project preparation, facilitating regulatory approvals, and strengthening coordination across relevant institutions.
He said global investors are increasingly seeking predictable and profitable markets, adding that Nigeria has continued to implement reforms to strengthen its investment climate.
He highlighted key policy changes under President Bola Tinubu, including exchange rate unification, a shift to a market-determined foreign exchange system, and efforts to strengthen external reserves.
According to him, Nigeria’s net external reserves have risen from less than $4 billion in 2023 to over $30 billion, while gross reserves have approached $50 billion.
He added that the country recorded real GDP growth of 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 and achieved 11.2 per cent growth in U.S. dollar terms in 2025.
The minister said Nigeria is on track for another year of double-digit GDP growth in dollar terms, positioning the country among major contributors to global growth in 2026.
He also said Nigeria’s economic growth is increasingly being driven by subnational governments rather than the federal level alone.
“The future of Nigeria’s growth story is being written in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Uyo, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Kaduna, Lafia, Owerri and Umuahia,” he said.
Oyedele cited Lagos as a leading example, referencing the commissioning of the Kasi Hyperscale Data Centre, supported by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.
He also noted that five of Nigeria’s tech unicorns are headquartered in Lagos, saying: “Africa is home to nine tech unicorns, and five of them are from Nigeria, all headquartered in Lagos.”
He said the government has introduced reforms to streamline taxes, improve VAT administration to allow full input credits on investments, introduce sectoral incentives, and establish an Office of the Tax Ombud.
“Our goal is not to tax more. It is to tax smarter,” he said.
According to him, the administration aims to raise Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio from about 10 per cent to 18 per cent within three years, not by increasing tax burdens but by expanding economic activity and formalisation.
Oyedele described Nigeria as a major investment destination due to its youthful population, expanding digital economy, and position within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to attracting private capital while ensuring a stable and predictable investment environment.
“The federal government is fundamentally committed to crowding in private capital, not crowding it out,” he said.
The announcement was made at the Invest Lagos 3.0 Summit, which focused on positioning Lagos as Africa’s leading investment destination.
