Lagos State has projected annual export earnings of about ₦387.5 billion ($250 million) from the newly inaugurated Industrial Leather Hub in Matori, Mushin, once it becomes fully operational.
The facility, commissioned on Saturday, is designed to position Lagos as the leather logistics capital of West Africa and marks a major step in Nigeria’s push to diversify its economy beyond oil.
According to state authorities, the hub is expected to generate more than 10,000 jobs within three years, with 70 percent reserved for women and youth. In addition, over 150,000 artisans will gain access to advanced training and start-up support to enhance their competitiveness across the leather value chain.
The project is backed by both the Council for Leather Exports and private investors, with Nigeria’s First Lady credited for inspiring the initiative through her focus on youth and women empowerment. Lagos State pledged to provide transparent regulation and infrastructure upgrades to support the hub, which will be linked to fashion districts, e-commerce platforms, and the Lagos Blue Line Rail to ease logistics for goods and people.
Authorities say the hub will drive innovation, attract investments, and help raise living standards, noting that its success will ultimately be measured by how many households are lifted above poverty.
Nigeria’s leather industry, once a global contender, collapsed due to inadequate infrastructure and weak processing capacity, leaving it unable to compete with countries such as China, Brazil, and India. Industry experts argue that affordable power supply and modern processing facilities remain crucial to reviving the sector.
In November 2024, the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) announced plans to establish mini tanneries in every state to process hides and skins into finished leather. Each cluster was expected to handle between one and five tonnes weekly to reduce excessive domestic consumption and redirect surplus to major markets in Lagos, Jos, Kano, and the South-East. However, as of August 2025, there has been no official update on whether these mini tanneries have been established.
Tanneries, which process animal hides and skins into leather, remain the backbone of the industry. The inauguration of the Lagos Industrial Leather Hub is seen as a step toward restoring Nigeria’s competitive edge by offering modern infrastructure, training opportunities, and integrated logistics to artisans and businesses across the value chain.
