Nigeria has launched a National Halal Economy Strategy with a target of mobilising USD 12 billion in investment. For an Italian food company, this is not just African news: it signals that a market of over 220 million people — half of them Muslim — is equipping itself with rules, infrastructure and capital to become a serious player in global Halal trade. Those who arrive first, with the right certification, take positions that are hard to dislodge.
As reported by Leadership and The Guardian Nigeria on the occasion of a reception in Lagos, Nigeria has formalised a national strategy for the Halal economy with a target of mobilising USD 12 billion in investment. The president of NACCIMA — the main confederation of Nigerian chambers of commerce — publicly reiterated the need to move from potential to concrete delivery. This is therefore not a statement of intent: Nigerian institutions are actively looking for trading partners and certified producers able to supply goods and services that comply with Halal standards.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, with over 220 million inhabitants. The Muslim community is concentrated mainly in the north of the country and makes up a substantial share of the population. Commercially, Nigeria is also the leading importer of processed food in sub-Saharan Africa and relies significantly on imports in product categories where Italy excels: pasta, preserves, olive oil, cheeses, cured meats (in compliant versions), bakery products and beverages.
Until now, many Italian companies have ignored Nigeria as a Halal destination because the market appeared to lack regulatory structure. The new national strategy changes the picture: a government that sets measurable targets and involves trade associations is implicitly telling foreign suppliers that from now on Halal certification will be a condition of access, not a bonus.
Exporting to a Halal market does not simply mean obtaining any certification: it means obtaining the certification recognised by the authorities of the destination country. In Nigeria the regulatory framework is evolving, but the international principle remains the same — certification bodies must be recognised. HQC Italia is recognised in more than 50 Islamic countries, including the main authorities in the Gulf (SASO and SFDA for Saudi Arabia, GAC and EIAC for the Emirates) and in Asia (JAKIM for Malaysia, BPJPH for Indonesia, MUIS for Singapore). This network of international recognitions is exactly what an Italian company needs to check before choosing which body to certify with: a certificate that is not recognised at destination is as good as no certificate at all.
If you are considering Nigeria as an outlet market — or if you already export to Africa and want to cover this channel too — here are the practical steps to follow:
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