The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has commended Zeberced, the management company of the Abuja Industrial Park, for accelerating the construction of its $300 million Free Trade Zone (FTZ) project in the Federal Capital Territory.
NEPZA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, gave the commendation during a routine inspection of the project site in Abuja on Thursday.
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 investment would significantly boost Nigeria’s manufacturing and export capacity.
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, while opening 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,” Ogunyemi said.
He urged host communities to protect the project, stressing that a secure environment was essential to attracting and retaining investments of such magnitude.
The NEPZA boss, however, expressed concern over the alleged invasion of the zone by youths from Jiwa community on August 8, when 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 attack on investor confidence” in Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones.
According to him, while NEPZA remains committed to maintaining harmonious relations with host and neighbouring communities and addressing legitimate concerns, it would not tolerate encroachment, destruction, theft or unauthorised access to the zone.
Ogunyemi said such actions contravene Section 13(1) of the NEPZA Act and could expose personnel, property and investments to vandalism, theft, trespass and other security threats.
He disclosed that the Authority had alerted the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Commissioner of Police to facilitate the deployment of federal security infrastructure to address the emerging threats.
As part of immediate measures, Ogunyemi said NEPZA would engage the FCT Minister and Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on the road network around the industrial park.
He also disclosed plans for a joint investigation with the Nigeria Police Force and the FCT authorities to identify those responsible for the breach and establish whether there were any internal lapses.
Other measures include supporting the affected company in assessing losses and mitigating business disruptions, reinforcing the perimeter fence, installing additional CCTV cameras and floodlights, and deploying 24-hour internal and external patrols across the zone.
Ogunyemi assured existing and prospective investors that the safety of personnel and assets remained NEPZA’s 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.
