The Lagos State Government has commenced plans to fast-track the operationalisation of the Imota Industrial Hub in Ikorodu, with a focus on industrial clustering, MSME growth, skills development and job creation.
The state Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, led an assessment visit to the facility on Saturday, August 29, 2026, alongside the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, and officials of the ministry.
The assessment was aimed at determining the hub’s readiness and identifying immediate interventions required to commence operations.
Ambrose-Medebem described the facility as a “low-hanging fruit” with significant potential for rapid activation, saying the government would not wait until every component was “100 per cent perfect” before putting ready facilities to use.
She said the immediate priority was to activate operational sections of the hub while outstanding infrastructure and other requirements are addressed in phases.
According to the commissioner, the Imota Industrial Hub would be developed as an integrated industrial centre rather than simply a collection of factory spaces.
She said businesses operating within complementary value chains would be clustered to enable manufacturers, processors, packaging companies, logistics providers and other enterprises to share infrastructure, reduce production costs, strengthen local sourcing and improve competitiveness.
Agriculture and agro-processing have been identified as priority areas, with opportunities in food processing, rice-related activities, packaging, agricultural inputs, machinery fabrication and maintenance, equipment servicing, storage and logistics.
The assessment also opened discussions on collaboration with the ITF to use the hub as a platform for technical and vocational training, industrial apprenticeship, equipment-based learning and certification.
The ITF Director-General expressed the Fund’s readiness to collaborate with the ministry to bridge the gap between technical training and practical industrial experience by exposing trainees to operational machinery and real production environments.
Under the proposed model, the hub will combine manufacturing and production with skills development, industrial support and market access, creating opportunities for skilled workers and prospective entrepreneurs.
The state government is also expected to address operational challenges, including reliable power supply, logistics and heavy-duty truck management, temporary accommodation for workers and operators, facility management, security, maintenance and performance monitoring.
The activation plan will be implemented in three phases.
The first phase will involve an inventory of available units, machinery and facilities, identification of priority industrial clusters, assessment of power requirements, establishment of facility management structures and identification of prospective manufacturers, processors and MSMEs.
The second phase will focus on onboarding businesses, commencing production and introducing ITF-supported training programmes, while the third phase will involve infrastructure upgrades, additional investment, expansion of industrial clusters and full operationalisation.
The Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment is expected to develop a comprehensive activation plan in collaboration with the hub’s management, ITF and other stakeholders.
The government said the Imota Industrial Hub is expected to generate employment, support MSME growth, improve skills development, increase local production, attract investment and strengthen local supply chains.
It added that the hub could eventually serve as a model for industrial development that could be replicated in other parts of Lagos State.
The commissioner directed officials to resolve immediate operational gaps, identify the first set of activities and occupants, and commence phased operations without unnecessary delay.