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NACCIMA Unveils $150m Digital Financing Portal, Charts New Course for Infrastructure Investment

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has unveiled a secure digital investment portal to facilitate access to a $150 million ODDO BHF SE Offshore Expansion Financing Facility, marking a major step towards boosting private sector investment and addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure financing gap.

The initiative was launched at the Nigeria Infrastructure Conference (INFRACON 2026) held at the Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Abuja, where government officials, investors, development finance institutions, regulators, academia and organised private sector leaders deliberated on strategies to accelerate infrastructure development through private capital.

The conference concluded with a communiqué calling for stronger public-private partnerships (PPPs), policy consistency and innovative financing mechanisms to unlock sustainable infrastructure investments.

Private Capital Key to Closing Infrastructure Gap

Participants agreed that Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit continues to undermine economic growth, industrialisation and global competitiveness, stressing that attracting private investment has become imperative.

According to the communiqué, predictable government policies, regulatory certainty and transparent governance remain critical to attracting long-term investment, while well-structured Public-Private Partnerships should serve as the primary vehicle for delivering major infrastructure projects.

Delegates also identified energy, transport, gas, maritime and digital infrastructure as priority sectors requiring immediate investment to stimulate productivity, facilitate trade and diversify the economy.

The conference further recommended wider adoption of blended finance, infrastructure bonds and credit enhancement mechanisms to mobilise additional investment capital.
$150m Offshore Financing Facility

A major highlight of the conference was the unveiling of the NACCIMA–ODDO BHF SE Offshore Expansion Financing Facility, jointly presented by Dr. Waheed Olagunju, Chairman of the NACCIMA–ODDO Working Group Committee and former Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, alongside Dr. Segun H. Olugbile, NACCIMA’s Digital Economy Coordinator.

The facility, developed in partnership with ODDO BHF SE, a leading German commercial banking group headquartered in Frankfurt, is designed to provide long-term expansion financing at single-digit interest rates for qualified Nigerian businesses.

The financing targets strategic sectors including manufacturing, agro-processing, energy and logistics, while 20 per cent of the fund has been specifically reserved for businesses in the digital economy and ICT sector.

Digital Portal to Boost Investor Confidence
Speaking at the unveiling, Dr. Olagunju described the initiative as a transparent and globally competitive investment platform that would enable Nigerian companies to access patient capital for business expansion.

“What we are launching today is a transparent, globally aligned investment origination pipeline. The Joint NACCIMA–ODDO Committee has developed a rigorous framework that enables viable, ESG-compliant Nigerian enterprises to access patient capital with a minimum financing of $10 million for the acquisition of European machinery, equipment and technology required to scale their operations,” he said.

He disclosed that the programme would begin with a pilot phase before nationwide expansion.

Presenting the digital platform, Dr. Olugbile said the secure e-Portal forms part of NACCIMA’s broader digital transformation agenda.

According to him, the platform incorporates advanced cybersecurity architecture, compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, automated Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification and the Trustmark framework to guarantee the protection of investors’ confidential financial information.
Eligibility Criteria

NACCIMA said applicants seeking funding must satisfy strict eligibility requirements, including submission of at least three years of audited financial statements, evidence of repayment capacity, compliance with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, and verified membership of NACCIMA or any of its affiliated Business Membership Organisations (BMOs).

The facility also requires beneficiaries to dedicate between 35 and 50 per cent of the financing to acquiring European machinery, equipment or technical services to facilitate technology transfer.

The association announced that the Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) portal would become operational next week, with a 60-day application window to identify the first 15 investment-ready companies for final credit assessment by ODDO BHF SE in Germany.
Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors, Chief Financial Officers and other qualified corporate executives were encouraged to begin the application process immediately.
Collaboration Essential

The conference emphasised that sustainable infrastructure development requires coordinated action by governments, development finance institutions, the organised private sector and international partners.

“Partnership is the platform on which projects stand,” the communiqué stated.
INFRACON delegates agreed to reconvene in April 2027 to review progress on the implementation of the conference resolutions and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.

The communiqué, signed by NACCIMA President, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, OON, described the launch of the digital financing platform as a significant milestone in advancing Nigeria’s infrastructure and industrial development agenda.

With the introduction of the $150 million ODDO BHF SE Offshore Expansion Financing Facility, NACCIMA aims to leverage private capital, digital innovation and international partnerships to accelerate enterprise growth, deepen industrialisation and support Nigeria’s long-term economic transformation.