The Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has received the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) on over 277 hectares of land approved for the Katsina State Free Trade Zone (FTZ).
It has also budgeted N2 billion to fast-track the development of the project capable of creating over 100,000 direct and 60,000 indirect jobs.
The Managing Director of NEPZA, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, revealed this yesterday when he received the CofO from Governor, Aminu Masari, in Abuja.
Already, the authority has spent about N500 million on power, roads and other infrastructure in preparation for the takeoff in the next 18 months.
Adesugba said: “We need to work hard to see that Katsina FTZ witnessed rapid development. The current administration is very serious to develop FTZs across the country. We have to work faster and selflessly to develop Nigeria by creating jobs and wealth for our people.”
According to him, the good aspect of the whole project is that the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is partnering with the state government to ensure the dream comes true.
“We have already captured Katsina, Kwara and Lagos states for the special medical economic zones. Good enough, the state has even begun its own medical economic trade zone and we shall partner with it to further expand the frontiers,” Adesugba said.
Presenting the CofO to the NEPZA Managing Director, the governor, who was represented by the Director-General, Katsina State Investment Promotion Agency, Ibrahim Tukur, expressed the state government’s readiness to partner UNIDO and NEPZA for robust development of the FTZ.
UNIDO National Programme Officer, Dr. Osuji Otu, promised that the organisation would focus more on capacity building and training among others.
