NEPZA Commends $300m Abuja Industrial Park Project, Warns Against Encroachment
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NEPZA Commends $300m Abuja Industrial Park Project, Warns Against Encroachment
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA has commended the management of Zeberced, operator of the Abuja Industrial Park, for accelerating construction of the $300m Free Trade Zone in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Managing Director of NEPZA, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, gave the commendation during a routine inspection of the project site in Abuja.
Ogunyemi said the pace of construction had justified the decision of the President Bola Tinubu administration to license the Abuja Industrial Park as a Free Trade Zone.
He said the project, located in the Idu Industrial Layout Phase IV, covered 250 hectares and was expected to accommodate more than 170 factories and create about 40,000 jobs.
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He added that the investment would boost manufacturing and exports while opening up the FCT to increased industrial activities.
“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 $300m investment,” he said.
The NEPZA boss urged host communities to protect the project, stressing that a secure environment was critical to attracting and retaining investments of such magnitude.
However, the authority expressed concern over the alleged invasion of the zone by youths from Jiwa community on August 8, during which a section of the perimeter fence was reportedly pulled down to create an unauthorised access road.
Ogunyemi described the incident as unacceptable and a direct threat to investor confidence in Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones.
He said while NEPZA recognised the need for harmonious relations with host communities and remained sensitive to legitimate concerns, it would not tolerate encroachment, destruction or theft within the zone.
“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,” he said.
Ogunyemi reminded members of the public that entry into, residence or remaining within a Free Trade Zone required prior permission from NEPZA.
He warned that continued insecurity could undermine investor confidence, disrupt industrial activities and expose investments to vandalism, theft and trespass.
The NEPZA chief executive said the authority had alerted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Commissioner of Police to deploy available 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.
Ogunyemi further disclosed that NEPZA had initiated measures to prevent a recurrence of the incident and find a lasting solution to challenges around the industrial park.
He said the authority would meet with Wike and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to discuss the road network around the industrial park.
He added that NEPZA would work with the Nigeria Police Force and the FCT administration to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and determine whether there were any internal lapses.
Other measures, according to him, include supporting the affected company with loss assessment and business recovery, reinforcing the perimeter fence, installing additional closed-circuit television cameras and floodlights, and deploying round-the-clock internal and external patrols across the zone.
The NEPZA boss assured existing and prospective investors that the authority remained committed to protecting personnel and assets in the country’s Free Trade Zones.
“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,” he said.
