FG To Resuscitate Moribund Free Trade Zone In Jigawa
The Federal Government has opted to resuscitate the moribund Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Jigawa State as part of efforts to create jobs and increase the state’s yearly revenues.
The FTZ established by the state government few years back was abandoned as a result of poor infrastructure; with $300,000 Operating Licence (OPL) fees owed the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) since 2017, as well as investors’ inadequate patronage, among others.
To revive the FTZ, NEPZA management and the state government have reached an agreement to put in place modalities for the payment of the outstanding fee to NEPZA in a very short time.
NEPZA’s Managing Director, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, commenting when Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Nnamdi, paid him a visit in Abuja, informed the governor that the authority would do everything possible to revitalise the FTZ in the state going forward.
Adesugba said: “We can see that trade zones have assisted several countries to grow their economies over the years. We at NEPZA would want every state of Nigeria to have at least one FTZ so that job opportunities could be created for our teeming youths.”
In his speech, Nnamadi told the NEPZA boss that the visit became crucial for the state delegation to acquire more knowledge and input from the authority on the best way to revitalise the FTZ with the aim of generating more revenue for the state.
He said: “We are here to discuss outstanding issues such as revitalisation of the zone’s infrastructural facilities, hibiscus sorting, grading and packaging facilities, payment of outstanding OPL fees of $60,000 yearly from 2017 till date and formation of a steering committee to bring up recommendations within five weeks, among others.”
