Africa Press-Nigeria:
Investors in Nigeria’s Free Zones sector have proffered ways to strengthen the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) for better performance.
Apart from the ongoing reforms initiated by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, which has culminated in the government’s amendment of foundation laws for the two agencies, they demanded other fundamental regulatory changes in the sector.
Also, they called for a technical audit of the country free zones as part of the ongoing reform, to determine their viability and relevance to the continued development and growth of the Nigerian economy.
Besides, they urged the government to sustain the policy actions already taken by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, and the Minister of State in the Ministry, Mariam Katagum, to sanitise the sector and create a level playing field for all operators.
The investors include Eko Support Services Free Zone, Lagos; Brawal Oil Services Limited; Marine Club of Nigeria; the Institute of Export Operations and Management, Onne; and Notore Power and Infrastructure Limited, Onne, Rivers State.
The president of the Marine Club of Nigeria, Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu, and a director in the Institute of Export Operations and Management, Paul Akande, said they fully endorsed the ongoing reform initiatives by the ministry to make the sector more viable.
Consolidate gains of reforms
Messrs Jideofo-Ogbuagu and Akande urged the ministers to consolidate the gains of the reforms by instituting a technical audit of the operations of the free zones in the country to determine their viability and relevance to the Nigerian economy.
“The new dawn in the nation’s free zones industry should enjoy the support of all operators who despaired over the confusion and unnecessary bickering of the past,” Mr Jideofo-Ogbuagu said.
