'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The Kogi State Government has announced plans to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Ajaokuta economic development corridor, aimed at boosting the state's economic potential and creating thousands of job opportunities. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo made the revelation during a working visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to a statement by his spokesperson, Ismaila Isah, the Governor, who was accompanied by top state officials, sought the support of NEPZA to transform the proposed SEZ—first conceived over a decade ago—into a reality. The proposed zone will have the status of a free trade zone, leveraging Kogi's strategic location as a central connecting point between northern and southern Nigeria.
“Kogi State is richly endowed with solid mineral resources in commercial quantities, arable land for agriculture, and a skilled workforce,” Governor Ododo explained during the meeting. “The establishment of this Special Economic Zone will help harness these resources, promote industrial growth, and make Kogi a key economic hub in the country.”
According to the Governor, the SEZ will serve as a catalyst for rapid economic development, encouraging both local and foreign investments in various sectors such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. He emphasized that the project would be a significant driver of job creation, with thousands of Nigerians set to benefit from the influx of economic activities in the region.
Governor Ododo assured Dr. Ogunyemi that the state government would provide all necessary support to ensure the timely realization of the SEZ, committing to putting in place all required infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to facilitate its establishment.
In response, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi expressed NEPZA's full commitment to supporting Kogi State in the project. He promised to facilitate the necessary approvals, licensing processes, and other requirements needed for the establishment of the Special Economic Zone.
“NEPZA is committed to working closely with the Kogi State Government to ensure that the processes for establishing this SEZ are expedited,” Dr. Ogunyemi stated. “Governor Ododo's proactive leadership in promoting infrastructure development, workers' welfare, and security in the state is commendable, and we are confident that this initiative will bring about significant positive change.”
As part of the preparatory steps for the project, the Kogi State Government had earlier allocated 3,000 hectares of land in the Ajaokuta economic corridor for the proposed SEZ. The project will be funded through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, aimed at leveraging both public and private sector resources to ensure its success.
With the backing of NEPZA and the strategic location of the zone, the Special Economic Zone in Kogi is set to become a critical component of the nation’s economic landscape, fostering industrial growth and contributing to Nigeria's broader economic development goals.
