FG promises to open free trade zone in Ekiti

Government is committed to making Ekiti home of blockchain technology, where technology companies and other industries.

News Agency of Nigeria • January 27, 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari and Ekiti governor-elect Biodun Oyebanji

The federal government has restated its commitment to make Ekiti a major free trade zone in Nigeria.

The government said this would support the state in delivering an economic and knowledge free zone where education-based industries and technology companies could operate.

Adesoji Adesugba, the managing director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), said this during a courtesy visit to Governor Biodun Oyebanji in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

Mr Adesugba said establishing the economic zone would boost the state’s economy, increase its internally generated revenue, and reduce over-reliance on federal allocation.

He commended the Ekiti government for being proactive by creating an education and knowledge zone.

He assured that the free trade zone would be ready within 18 months, adding that he was in Ekiti to confirm the federal government’s commitment toward the project’s successful completion, calling on drivers and captains of industries to invest in the state when the zone was ready.

“I personally came to Ekiti to express the commitment of the federal government of Nigeria to support the state in delivering economic and knowledge free zone. Government is committed to making Ekiti home of blockchain technology, where technology companies and other industries that have things to do with education will be ready to invest,” Mr Adesugba stated. “Ekiti is known for education and ideas innovation, and this is where we are going to show the world that Nigeria has arrived.”

The NEPZA boss further said the first thing was to get a presidential declaration to make Ekiti a free zone.

“Oyebanji has given a matching order and within 18 months, we will get so many industries, both virtual and on-sight, there,” he said.

The governor said it was not wise for any state to drive its economy on monthly federal allocation, stressing the need to fast-track declaration on Ekiti Knowledge Zone.

“My administration campaign is on a mantra of shared prosperity and that a people cannot prosper if they are not productive,” he said.

(NAN)

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