Nigeria Gets Tough With Its Economic Zones to Boost Exports

Nigeria plans to overhaul scores of free customs zones it operates across Africa’s most populous nation to clamp down on misuse.

The zones were set up to boost exports but companies also use them to sell into the domestic market at the expense of local competitors.

Lawmakers are considering a proposal to withdraw licenses from zone-based firms who sell more than 25% of their production to Nigeria. But Jumoke Oduwole, minister for industry, trade and investment, said she would rather they pay more.

“A lot of companies operating at the free zones have not been exporting enough,” she said in ...