By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has issued a total of 39 license permits to operators since its establishment in 1992.
The acting Managing Director, NEPZA, David Terhemba Nongo, disclosed this at a programme put together by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in Lagos.
Nongo said in line with the authority’s mandate, two of the zones are public-owned while 14 at the moment are currently operational.
According to him, the remaining zones that have been licensed by the authority are still under various stages of development.
He added that a total of $16 billion FDI has been attracted into the nation’s economy .
“From 1992 to April 2017,NEPZA had 34 Free Zones spread across the country and between then and now , the number has risen to 39.
” And with 39Free Zones ,Industrial parks and well over 400 licensed Free Zones Enterprises (FZEs),NEPZA has attracted over $16billion FDI into the national economy since inception; and contributes a major percentage of FDI that Nigeria attracts.
He noted that some of the new special economic zones include: Lekki, Sokoto,Makurdi , Ilorin , Bauchi ,Abakaliki and Benin.
Furthermore, NEPZA boss explained that the authority has the presidential authorisation to licence new zones , pilot industrial parks and special economic zones ,one at each geopolitical zones in the country.
The NEPZA boss who was represented by Head of Corporate Communication, Simon Imobo Tsuwan explained that the authority has been able to record N50billion in the last three years , adding that the highest it recorded under past government was N2 billion.
He affirmed that the Free Zones scheme was envisioned on diversifying the nation’s economy from oil,fast-tracking her industrialisation, stimulating exports oriented business enterprises and manufacturing, strengthening strategic national economic policies.
“Our vision is to establish industrial zones of the highest quality that meet the needs of investors and ensure a diversified economy”, he added.