By Dada Ahmed
The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba,says th Federal Government is committed to using the Free Trade Zone Scheme to reduce high unemployment indices in the country.
Adesugba who made the remark when Alhaji Usman Bello Kankara, the District Head of Kerate, Kankara, Katsina State paid him a courtesy visit on Monday in Abuja added such industrial hubs could gradually quash the widespread insecurity across the country.
This is contained in a statement signed by Martins Odeh,Head, Corporate Communications, NEPZA and copied The Reporters on Monday.
The NEPZA boss said: “President Muhammadu Buhari is quietly but diligently repositioning the country’s free trade zone scheme for it to contribute greatly to both our National Domestic Product and Gross Domestic Product respectively.
“The president is doing this with the revamping of decayed infrastructure in the two public zones in Kano and Calabar, and by allowing for the establishment of news ones across the nation.
“We are set to visit Katsina State in a fortnight to flag-off the Funtua Free Trade Zone dedicated for the production of cottons and fabrics for local consumption and exportation.
“ This zone, when operational, will leverage on the cotton belt of the North West to commence active production of varieties of fabrics in commercial quantities.
Adesugba explained that no part of the country would be exempted from habouring a type of zone, adding that many state governors were beginning to key into the zone business ecosystem to boost commerce, employment and revenues.
The NEPZA CEO, therefore, described the zone scheme as a wonderful business concept aimed at speeding up industrialistion, adding that industries operating in private and public zones were providing unimaginable number of dependable employments to job seekers.
“The Authority believes, sincerely, that the zone can be used to improve the economic situation we are in now.
” In fact, if majority of our young people are gainfully engaged, the current security situation will improve dramatically.
“We, therefore, thank the president again for approving the Funtau free trade zone as this will go a long way to stabilize the state and its environs’’, Adesugba further said.
Earlier, Kankara had expressed delight on Adesugba’s appointment as the managing director of NEPZA, describing him as a “square peg in square hole.’’
The Royal Father, also said the insecurity in the country could be hinged on the lack of sustainable employment for the young people, adding that NEPZA’s rebirth, under Adesugba, could speedily change the narrative.
“We are, therefore, eagerly waiting for the commissioning of the Funtua free trade zone. This wonderful business structure would no doubt boost commerce, production, employment, and income for our people,’’ he said.
