Trade zones

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) on Wednesday in Abuja said that the Free Trade Zones (FTZ) scheme attracted over 30 billion dollars investments in the country.

The Managing Director/CEO of NEPZA, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba said this at the 30th anniversary of the Free Trade Zones Scheme.

The event is with the theme, “Nigeria Special Economic Zones Scheme: Evolvement, Challenges and Way Forward To Economic Growth and Sustainability”.

Adesugba said that the global business model was meeting its objective in fast tracking economic growth and industrialisation.

According to him, the decision of the Federal Government to key into this concept has remained legendary as the model has become a key driver of the nation’s economy.

While projecting a brighter future for the free trade zones, Adesugba said that the business enclaves harbor over 600 enterprises providing 150,000 direct employment and an estimated 400,000 indirect employment.

“To date, the zones have attracted over 30 billion dollars investments which is expected to exponentially increase in the next few years with our sustained incentives and aggressive investment drive across the world.

“The future is bright for the Free Trade Zone scheme in Nigeria.

“And again, we express our profound appreciation to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for the approval given for the establishment of six Special Economic Zones and the earmarking of four international airports as Free Trade Zones in 2021,’’ he said.

Adesugba pledged that NEPZA would continue with its reforms to position the scheme for global competitiveness.

According to him, the Authority has established Special Economic Zones Dispute Resolution Centre to mediate in disputes among operators in the zones.

“NEPZA has also established Special Economic Zones Security outfit to professionally secure lives and investments in the zones.

“More so, the Special Economic Zones Training Institute, Kano will help bridge the knowledge gap in the free zones scheme.

The authority also established an automated platform to digitise the operations of the scheme for enhanced efficiency and accountability,’’ he said.

Adesugba added that NEPZA recorded the inauguration of five-storey building at Victoria Island, Lagos and developed 25MW power infrastructure each at Calabar and Kano free trade zones.

“In the last 30 years, the scheme is operating under robust fiscal incentives as enunciated in the enabling Act.

“These provisions have enabled the Authority to checkmate attempts by revenue-generating agencies to over reach themselves in collection of taxation and levies,’’ he said.

The NEPZA boss said that rather than bickering amongst sister agencies, the Authority was developing notable strategic alliances as follows:

“Acceptance by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to fully implement the free duty incentives regarding imports and exports by Free Zones’ Enterprises into the customs territory.

“A Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on administration of taxes in the zones and regulatory guidelines for banking operations in the free zones in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),’’ Adesugba said.

He said that 13 free zones have been licensed so far by the current administration, describing the presence of key global enterprises in the zones as a testament to the assertion in speedily contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

On his part Mr. Tijjani Y. Kaura, Managing Director/CEO Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, said oil and gas free trade zones attracted over 200 companies with over 16.6 billion dollars.

Kaura added that the scheme created over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs, thereby contributing to local content development.

He however said that regardless of the achievements made so far, the scheme had faced some challenges.