Mohammed Shosanya

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has congratulated Aliko Dangote on the completion of his refinery.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority,NEPZA,Prof.Adesoji Adesugba ascribed the huge investment in the Dangote Refinery, one of Nigeria’s flagship free trade zones, to the unrivaled patriotic posture of the African richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Adesugba, made this remark while congratulating Dangote on Saturday in Abuja on the completion of the refinery,billed to be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday.

He said that the multi-billion-dollar investment was a further testament on the extent the Nigerian billionaire investor could go to contribute his quota to solving the country’s energy challenge.

According to him,the Dangote Free Zone with diligent supervision of NEPZA successfully bequeathed the country with an enviable global energy infrastructure.

He implored indigenous investors to emulate Dangote by exploring the free trade scheme as a result of its cost-effectiveness and in helping to contribute to the country’s industrialisation process.

He said:“On behalf of myself, management and staff of the Authority, I congratulate Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the entire management and staff of the Dangote Free Trade Zone for the completion and commissioning of the Dangote Refinery.

“Let me also congratulate His Excellency, President Muhammaadu Buhari GCFR for his commitment in delivering a competitive free trade zone scheme for Nigeria.”

He advised the states government that have not keyed into the scheme to do so without further delay, noting that the free zone scheme was the only viable tool the sub-nationals could use in attracting investment and development within their limited tenures.

He advocated the need for the understanding of relevant sister agencies involved in the protection and promotion of the scheme, saying that the current incoherent manner of interferences from different quarters were affecting the smooth running of the concept.

He expressed delight on the current cooperation from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Department of State Service (DSS), adding that these kinds of friendly handshakes with these agencies were the types that could open the scheme for global competition.

Besides,Adesugba has described as an unequal the support the Authority had received from the Buhari-led administration in carrying out its core mandate of promoting the establishment of free trade zones across the country.

He said that aside the Federal Government’s approvals of some public Special Economic Zones in Lagos, Kwara, Benue, Ebonyi, Katsina, Gombe States and setting aside of four International Airports as free trade zones, a total of seven other new private-driven free trade zones were recently approved.

These include Bonny Kingdom FTZ, Rivers; Hydropolis FTZ, Niger; Premier Industrial FTZ, Rivers; Koko Walness Value Change Resort, Lagos; GC Exports FTZ, Kogi; Ekiti Knowledge SEZs, Ado-Ekiti; as well as Flour Mill FTZ, Lagos.

He added:“It is indeed possible to transform the fortunes of our nation using this scheme, and this administration has unmistakably built the path which we shall use to revive our economy again”