• Left: Barr Vera Ndanusa, Executive Director, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board; Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, LCCI President.
The Nigeria International Trade Fair (NITF) is set to compete with the Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) following its restoration after a 14 -year suspension.
A comparison of the two international trade fairs show that while the 39th edition of the yearly Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) will be held from November 7 to November 16, 2025 at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, the NITF will be held at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex from November 21 to 30, 2025.
While the NITF operates under the purview of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment via the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, the LITF, is hosted annually by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
The NITF, which was positioned as Nigeria’s official national marketplace and the West Africa gateway for cross-border commerce, was suspended decades ago from hosting exhibitions at the trade fair complex. This was due to policy changes by the government.
This paved the way for the entry of the LCCI hosting its annual fair with a global focus at the arena of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, from the mid 80s up to 2008 when it dumped the site for the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, to date.
Barr Vera Ndanusa, the Executive Director, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, recently told journalists in Lagos that the Federal Government is returning the Nigeria International Trade Fair to the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Expressway.
She said:” The Nigeria International Trade Fair (NITF) is returning under its known name after a 14- years suspension. The Trade Fair has reverted to its former name in order to give it continuity. We decided to continue from where it started.
The Fair started decades ago, so we decided to relocate it to its original name so as to give continuity and also keep its face as the commercial hub in Africa.That’s the place to be. Going back is bringing back the position of the Fair in the country.
We had to revive the Trade Fair because over the decades we’ve seen investors’ interest in Africa and growth in areas like tech, agribusiness and manufacturing.
Restoring the Fair to its original name is about reaffirming the first mandate as Nigeria’s national marketplace. It is our mandate to actually organise the Fair.
The Trade Fair complex is purposely built. So, going back to its name is continuing with the legacy of business growth in the complex and to also sustain the Trade Fair’s position as the market hub in West Africa.
It is a commitment to actually rebuild the Fair as a flagship gateway to the ECOWAS region and the AfCFTA market, most especially because of the location of the complex which is at the West Africa corridor.
It’s going to be a regional marketplace and an easy access to other markets from West Africa and Africa as a whole.
The fair is a “gateway to the $700 billion ECOWAS market” and a platform for the African Continental Free Trade Area.”