Umana Okon Umana

The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has opened discussions with the
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to forge closer ties on a range of issues from
use of land in the ports where oil and gas free zones are located to strategic
cooperation.

The strategic engagement move between the two government agencies began
during the weekend when the managing director of OGFZA, Mr Umana Okon Umana,
paid a courtesy call on the managing director of the NPA, Mrs Hadiza Bala
Usman, at the NPA head office on the marina, Lagos.

MD OGFZA, Umana Okon Umana and MD NPA, Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman during a courtesy call by Umana in Lagos

Briefing Mrs Usman on the series of reforms and progress in the free zones
since he took over as chief executive officer in September 2016, Umana said
more would be achieved with greater support and cooperation of the NPA. He
proposed a partnership agreement in which the NPA would cede lands to OGFZA in
the nation’s seaports hosting oil and gas free zones to free up access to land
for investors in the form of subleases. Suggesting that the proposal should be
formalized with an MOU, Umana explained that OGFZA would administer such
leaseholds in collaboration with the NPA.

He emphasized that collaboration between OGFZA and the NPA on land use and
other policy issues would have positive impact on the ease of doing business in
the free zones in line with the policy thrust of the Federal Government.

The NPA managing director, Mrs Usman commended the managing director of
OGFZA on his efforts to sanitize the free zones by insisting that all licensees
comply with extant laws and regulations and pledged unflinching support to
OGFZA in the bid to realise the full objectives and potential of the oil and
gas free zones.

She expressed full support for Mr. Umana’s position that OGFZA and NPA
needed to strengthen their collaboration to ensure that a level playing field
is provided for all licensees and concessionaires. She pledged to direct port
managers in the nation’s seaports to work more closely with Free Zones,
promising ever ready support to new and existing investors in the free zones
with regard to approval for facility upgrade and other material need. In
particular, she said the Notore Channel would be dredged to boost economic
activities in Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone.