By James Emejo
The Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba has described the exit of one of the country’s pioneer free trade zone investors, Anwar Jarmakani, as a huge loss to the Nigerian business community.
Jarmakani is the founder and Executive- Chairman of Jagal Conglomerate, owners of Niger-Dock FZE.
Adesugba in a statement said the country had lost a “true patriot, a committed citizen, a passionate industrialist and a strong believer in the Nigerian industrialisation efforts.”
He said,”His passionate desire to see Nigeria overcoming its industrial developmental challenges knows no bound and his readiness to support the federal government’s efforts to deploy various economic models for national development is indeed legendary.”
The NEPZA MD said, “In the government’s drive to expand special economic zones for development, the late industrialist was a leading support, offering his business technical prowess, goodwill and networks to ensure the realisation of this lofty agenda.
“He is to me a forward-thinking person, an older brother and mentor whose ideas were to revolutionise the free zone scheme.”
He explained that the deceased’s commitment towards active private sector involvement in the country’s free zone was second to none, adding that both the federal government and the authority would continually uphold that strategic vision of ensuring the positive impact of the scheme was felt by all Nigerians.
Adesugba further explained that Jarmakani was one of the founding fathers of the Nigeria Special Economic Zones Association, stressing that his contributions towards free trade zone development remains immeasurable.
He said the late industrialist was fully supportive of the federal government’s efforts to reform and expand the free zones.
He said,”In him, we found a supportive industrialist who places national interest above personal business gains and who strived to promote compliance with official stipulations and regulations.”
The late Syrian- born Nigerian investor was the head of the Jarmakani business dynasty in Nigeria and founder/ executive chairman, Jagal Group – a conglomerate that operates leading energy businesses and manages a diverse portfolio of investments in Nigeria
He is a self-made industrial entrepreneur, who came to Nigeria in 1963 from Syria and became part of the first generation of private sector pioneers with a track record of relentless ambition, vision, leadership and integrity.
Jarmakani started the company in 1973 and began with construction and real estate development and by 1980s, he had expanded investments into the health, hygiene and home sectors through partnerships with multinationals brands.
In 2003, the group made a strategic investment designed to consolidate its position in the oil and gas sector by acquiring a majority interest in Niger Dock, a marine industrial ecosystem which has now been transformed into a leading oil services company.
The group took another major step in 2005 when it established a private free zone development aimed at improving investment opportunities and creating economic stimulus through industrial development, technology transfer, employment creation and skills development.
