The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has commended Zeberced, the management company of the Abuja Industrial Park, for accelerating construction of the $300 million Free Trade Zone (FTZ) project in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Managing Director of NEPZA, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, gave the commendation over the weekend during a routine inspection visit to the project site in Abuja.
Ogunyemi said the pace of construction had justified President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to license the Abuja Industrial Park as a Free Trade Zone, noting that the project would significantly boost Nigeria’s manufacturing and export capacity.
“We are glad to see that the construction is accelerating, which has justified President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s licensing of Abuja Industrial Park as a Free Trade Zone. With this initiative, the administration has boosted the country’s manufacturing and export indices through a $300 million investment,” he said.
Located in Idu Industrial Layout Phase IV, the 250-hectare industrial park is expected to accommodate more than 170 factories and generate about 40,000 jobs, particularly for young Nigerians. The project is also expected to position the FCT as a major hub for industrial activities.
Ogunyemi urged host communities to protect the project, stressing that a secure environment was essential for attracting and retaining investments of such magnitude.
The NEPZA chief, however, expressed concern over the alleged invasion of the industrial park by some Jiwa youths on August 8, during which a section of the perimeter fence was reportedly pulled down to create an unauthorised access road.
He described the incident as unacceptable and a direct threat to investor confidence in Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones.
“While the Authority recognises the importance of maintaining harmonious relations with host and neighbouring communities and remains sensitive to legitimate community concerns, NEPZA shall not tolerate unilateral encroachment, destruction and theft in the zone, as such actions contravene Section 13(1) of the NEPZA Act,” Ogunyemi stated.
He reiterated that no individual is permitted to enter, remain in or reside within a Free Trade Zone without prior authorisation from the Authority.
According to him, the incident could endanger lives and property, disrupt industrial activities and expose investments to vandalism, theft, trespass and other security threats.
Ogunyemi said NEPZA had alerted the Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Commissioner of Police, seeking the deployment of federal security infrastructure to address the emerging threats.
“Our mandate is to provide a secure, stable and globally competitive environment for investors. This breach falls short of that standard. This company has done a lot for the surrounding communities and should be supported in return,” he said.
Measures to Strengthen Security
The NEPZA managing director disclosed a number of immediate measures aimed at preventing a recurrence of the incident and finding a lasting solution to the issues surrounding the industrial park.
These include meetings with the FCT Minister and the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to address the road network around the industrial park.
He also announced plans for a joint investigation involving the Nigeria Police Force and the FCT authorities to identify those responsible for the breach and determine whether there were any internal security lapses.
Other measures include providing full support to the affected company for loss assessment and business disruption, reinforcing the perimeter fence, installing additional CCTV cameras and floodlights, and maintaining 24-hour internal and external security patrols across the zone.
“NEPZA reassures all current and prospective investors that the safety of personnel and assets remains our top priority. This isolated incident will not deter the Authority’s commitment to making Nigeria’s FTZs the destination of choice for global investment,” Ogunyemi said.
