(Kano)
The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), says it is considering incentives and loans for enterprises operating in Free Trade Zones (FTZ) in the country.
The Managing director of the Authority, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, disclosed this while speaking with journalists at on the sideline of a two-day familiarisation tour of the FTZ Kano on Wednesday.
According to him, the idea of the FTZ was to made factories competitive within the sovereignty of Nigeria as well as cut transportation of goods from foreign countries into Nigeria.
“In Free Trade Zones, we have incentives such as turfs, duty free for goods entering the zones for production process and provision of infrastructure in terms of energy, good roads and warehouses.
“And Nigeria will not exempt from trying to attract investment in FTZ, the Federal Government is concentrating on providing standard infrastructure that can compete anywhere in the world, “he said.
According to Adesugba,the Buhari-led administration is paying attention to developing the infrastructure in FTZ as exemplified from the experience of Kano Zone.
“Most of the companies we visited in FTZ Kano are full of praises even though we have not reached there,”he added.
Adesugba further disclosed that NEPZA would soon embark on procurement process to boost power supply in the FTZ across the country.
He said that the Authority was also working to upgrade water supply, through the provision of adequate pumps to the industries in the Kano zone.
The Managing Director added that NEPZA would work in collaboration with the Kano State Government to supply water to the zone from the Kano Water Board.
He said that NEPZA would improve on infrastructure of the group network and residences for the investors, adding that the work was expected to be completed in no distant future.
“We hope to continue to improve on the facilities in the free zones, so that the FTZ in Nigeria can be seen as up to the international standard.
“The Federal Government is more particular about ensuring that all the basic things needed are available in all the FTZ administered by NEPZA,’’he further said.
On security,the NEPZA boss emphasised the importance of security to the operations of the FTZ, adding that proactive measures had been evolved to secure the zones with a to attracting investors.
He said the Authority would provide additional accommodation and other facilities to improve the wellbeing of security personnel in the zones.
Duaglobalnews reports that one the highpoint of the occasion was inspection of the ongoing construction of the investors’ residence and other viable projects as well as some industries in the FTZ Kano by the managing director.
Enterprises visited are: Saby Foods; AFRI Packs, YES Plastic, TOP FRANK FTZ, MUFEX Wires and Cables Limited and MARSHALL Biscuits among others.
Mr Sulaiman Tanko and Abdullatif Gujba, Managing Directors of AFRI Packs and YES Plastic, respectively, commended Adesugba for the visit.
They, however urged the Authority to aensure that epileptic power supply in the zone becomes a thing of the past, to boost their production capacity.
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