The Federal Government has thrown its weight behind the establishment of the Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC), with stakeholders targeting a soft launch in the first quarter of 2027.
The commitment was made at the inaugural meeting of the LIFC National Steering Committee held in Abuja on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. The meeting brought together representatives of the Federal Government, Lagos State Government and the private sector, represented by EnterpriseNGR, to advance the initiative from the planning stage to implementation.
The Federal Government reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s backing of the LIFC, identifying the project as an important component of Nigeria’s broader economic strategy and efforts to strengthen the country’s position in international capital markets.
Under the implementation framework, relevant Federal institutions will work on key areas required to establish the financial centre. These include legislation, taxation and fiscal policy, financial regulation, immigration, investment promotion and digital infrastructure.
The LIFC was originally initiated by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with EnterpriseNGR. Over the past two years, the initiative has undergone consultations involving government agencies, regulators, private-sector stakeholders and international partners.
With the formation of the National Steering Committee, stakeholders are now expected to coordinate efforts more closely and accelerate the development of the centre ahead of its proposed Q1 2027 soft launch.
The initiative is expected to enhance Nigeria’s attractiveness to international investors, deepen the country’s financial markets and strengthen Lagos’ role as a major hub for global capital and financial services.
