The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has intervened to resolve the dispute between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Abuja Technology Village (ATV) Free Trade Zone.
The Managing Directorof NEPZA, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Ogunyemi appealed to the ATV operators and investors to withdraw their lawsuit against the FCTA to allow for roundtable negotiations.
According to him, sustaining the growth of the Free Trade Zones Scheme will boost Nigeria’s economy and accelerate industrialisation in the FCT.
He commended efforts of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in expanding the capital’s economic frontier, particularly through the proposed Abuja City Walk (ACW) project.
Ogunyemi disclosed plans to assess all 63 licensed free trade zones in the country for their contributions to foreign direct investment and export promotion.
“I have discussed with the FCT Minister on the importance of supporting the ATV to succeed while also promoting the development of the Abuja City Walk project.
“We must work together to achieve this for the good of our nation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wike reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by bringing Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to the FCT.
“We must fulfil Mr President’s promises regarding industrialisation, trade, and investment.
“In this context, the FCT will collaborate with NEPZA to review the future of ATV, a zone that was sponsored and supported by the FCT administration,” he said.
According to Wike, efforts are underway to fast-track the industrialisation process of the territory with the construction of the Abuja City Walk.
“The Abuja City Walk project is planned to cover over 200 hectares in the Abuja Technology Village corridor along Airport Road.
“The business ecosystem aims to create a lively, mixed-use urban center with residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, medical and institutional facilities.
“The ACW will turn out to be a high-definition and world-class project that will give this administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda true meaning in the North-Central Region of the country,” he said.
The minister expressed his continued pursuit of land and property owners who failed to fulfil their obligations to the FCT in his determination to develop the territory.
