Kogi Gov’t to Establish Special Economic Zone in Ajaokuta
The Kogi State Government has announced plans to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with the status of a Free Trade Zone, aimed at boosting the state’s economic development.
This was made in a press statement signed and made available to Journalists by Ismaila Isah, the special adviser on media to the state governor.
The proposed zone will be located in the Ajaokuta economic development corridor, a region rich in resources and strategically positioned as a key link between northern and southern Nigeria.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, on a working visit to the Managing Director and CEO of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, in Abuja on Tuesday, sought the authority’s support for the project, which has been in the pipeline for over a decade.
Governor Ododo was accompanied by senior officials from the Kogi State Government.
During the visit, the Governor emphasized the need for the Special Economic Zone to tap into the state’s abundant natural resources, including solid minerals, arable land for agriculture, and its high-quality human resources.
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He noted that the SEZ would serve as a catalyst for job creation and transform Kogi State into a major hub for economic activities, benefiting both the state and the country at large.
“Kogi State is endowed with numerous solid mineral resources in commercial quantities, fertile land for agricultural production, and a skilled workforce waiting to be harnessed,” Governor Ododo said.
“The establishment of the Special Economic Zone will unlock the full economic potential of the state.”
Governor Ododo assured Dr. Ogunyemi that the state government would fulfill all necessary requirements to ensure the successful realization of the project.
In response, Dr. Ogunyemi assured the Governor that NEPZA would offer its full support to expedite the approval, licensing, and other necessary processes for the establishment of the SEZ. He commended Governor Ododo for his leadership in infrastructure development, worker welfare, and the state’s security efforts.
As part of the process, the Kogi State Government has already allocated 3,000 hectares of land in the Ajaokuta corridor for the project, which is set to be funded through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The establishment of the Special Economic Zone is expected to not only enhance the state’s economic prospects but also attract local and foreign investment, creating thousands of new jobs for Nigerians.
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