The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) on Wednesday said it generated more than N1.8billion in the first 10 months of the current year for the Federal Government.
Its Managing Director, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, made this known at the opening of the 2025 Kano Free Trade Zone Investors and Stakeholders Forum in Kano, which has “Strengthening Partnerships for Efficient Service Delivery in the Free Trade Zone” as its theme.
Ogunyemi, represented by the Head of Kano Free Trade Zone, Mr Richard Bassey, expressed confidence that the forum would produce workable strategies to enhance Free Zone administration in line with international best practices.
He reaffirmed commitment to enhance the country’s Free Trade Zone (FTZ) operations by enforcing regulations and collaborating with other agencies.
The managing director said that the time had come to address operational gaps and administrative bottlenecks hindering smooth operations in the zone.
According to him, the forum provides vital platform for investors, government agencies and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore collaborative approaches that will boost production capacity and competitiveness.
He reaffirmed NEPZA’s commitment to aligning with Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by providing enabling environment and streamlined policy framework that support ease of doing business in the free zones.
Ogunyemi explained that the partnership would ensure seamless operations and help position Nigeria as a preferred investment destination on the continent.
He added that investment inflow into the zones remains substantial, with many operators investing in foreign currency.
The NAFDAC Coordinator for Kano State, Kasim Idris, called for enhanced collaboration and strict adherence to regulatory standards to ensure production of quality and safe products within the Kano Free Trade Zone.
He said that the forum would harmonise procedures to enhance efficiency and strengthen quality of products manufactured for both local consumption and export.
“Ensure products from the zone are safe and wholesome, as any failure reflects negatively on NAFDAC and on Nigeria’s global reputation.
“Any product carrying NAFDAC’s registration number, wherever it goes, speaks for Nigeria. If such a product is substandard, it affects our rating directly or indirectly,” he said.
He warned that substandard products originating from the free trade zone, even when exported, could impact NAFDAC’s international rating.
He noted that the agency had already attained the World Health Organisation’s Maturity Level 3 (ML3) under the global benchmarking tool.
Idris urged manufacturers and investors within the zone to comply with regulatory standards by maintaining good manufacturing practices, engaging qualified personnel and ensuring quality assurance system.
