James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran
The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has said it is diligently deploying the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) scheme to stimulate and revolutionise the the Sokoto State economic space.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the authority, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, disclosed this while taking delivery of Certificate-of- Occupancy of 503.8 hectares of land for the proposed world-class special economic zone to be sited in the state.
The document was delivered to him by the state governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal in Abuja last week.
Adesugba, pointed out that the state had been deliberately positioned to attract the right investments, adding that investments could only be locate where they were welcomed.
He said NEPZA was aware of the great efforts put in to make Sokoto to occupy the second position of the recent national survey on the Ease of Doing Business by the governor, adding that the state through that singular effort had worked its way to becoming a global business hub.
Adesugba, further explained that the federal government was applying the scheme to yield the desired result, pointing out that the new administration in NEPZA was assiduously pursuing its mandate of using the free trade zone to galvanize the business environment.
In a statement issued by Head, Corporate Communications, NEPZA, Mr. Martins Odeh, the NEPZA boss said: “We are convinced that with diligent application of the principles of the scheme, we shall have the same benefits as countries like China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt that have also greatly leveraged on this scheme.
“I am particularly enthused with the way and manner Egypt has greatly turned around its economy using this scheme.
“We are happy that Sokoto and a number of states in the country are now prepared to embrace this global economic innovative model that easily propels growth.
“We therefore, congratulate the Sokoto Government and the good people of that state for joining the league of cities with special economic zones.”
Earlier Tambuwal, had explained that the business ecosystem of the state was now ready for exploitations by the private sector, adding that it was incumbent on the administration to stimulate commerce in greater measure for the benefit of the people.
He also said the collaboration with NEPZA to help drive industrialisation of the state through the zone scheme was remarkable, as according to him, the proposed Sokoto State Economic Zone when fully operational would improve all growth and development indices.
The highpoint of the event was the agreement by parties to set up an implementation committee for the take-off this laudable project.
