By Chesa Chesa
The new Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, has promised to position the Authority towards ensuring economic growth, accelerate employment creation and industrialization of the country.
Dr. Ogunyemi made the promise in Abuja while taking over the mantle of leadership of NEPZA from the former Managing Director, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba
The new NEPZA boss who thanked President Bola Tinubu for finding him worthy of the appointment, said he would concentrate on three strategic areas which include resuscitation of non performing Free Trade Zones, Digitization of NEPZA activities and Listing of Free Trade Zones on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.
“NEPZA under my watch, shall be an organization which will regulate free trade zones in line with extant laws and in the most profitable way for our nation and over the next few days, I will be evaluating human and material resources of this organization and reach out to our sister agencies like Customs, Immigration, Security Services among others towards developing the sector”, he said.
Dr, Ogunyemi therefore solicited the support of all sister agencies, stakeholders, staff and the media towards realizing his mandate of developing the Free Trade Zones sector.
While promising to operate an open door policy, the Managing Director advised staff of the Authority to be alive to their responsibilities towards complementing the efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s led administration in realizing its renewed hope agenda in the area of economy diversification and development.
On his part, the former Managing Director/CEO, Adesugba said there is still much to be done in the area of Free Trade Zones development compared to what other developed countries have achieved over the years.
Prof. Adesugba stated that for Nigeria to attract more investments, necessary attention must be given to the creation of additional Free Trade Zones in the country.
“We need more companies to come to Nigeria to invest because right now we have about 600 enterprises in our Zones while China has about fifty thousand, so we’re just starting because with about 230 million people needing clothing, building materials and other domestic consumables and so on, we still need to produce all these things in Nigeria” Prof. Adesugba explained.
While expressing confidence in the ability of Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi to deliver on his mandate due to his experience from the private sector, Prof Adesugba congratulated him on his appointment and wished him all the best as he pilot the affairs of NEPZA.
The handing over ceremony was attended by management staff of NEPZA, family members of the new Managing Director as well as stakeholders in Free Trade Zones sector.
