Kogi State is set for a radical transformation following the official issuance of the License and Certificate of Declaration for the Ajaokuta Economic City Free Trade Zone by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA).
In a ceremony held at the NEPZA Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the Managing Director and CEO of NEPZA, Olufemi Ogunyemi, presented the certificate to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, marking a formal commencement of the state’s ambitious journey toward becoming a premier investment hub.
Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the event as a historic milestone that validates the state’s economic transformation agenda.
During the presentation, Dr. Ogunyemi commended the state’s preparedness, expressing absolute confidence that the Kogi State Government possesses the political will and strategic framework necessary to translate the vision of the Economic City into a thriving industrial ecosystem.
He noted that the designation of Ajaokuta as a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is a strategic move to leverage the region’s existing industrial infrastructure.
Governor Ododo, in his response, extended profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the presidential approval that birthed the Ajaokuta Economic City FTZ.
The Governor assured the Presidency that Kogi State is determined to justify this confidence by rapidly developing the zone into a model commercial corridor.
He further lauded NEPZA’s administrative and technical guidance throughout the application process, highlighting that the synergy between the state and the federal agency was instrumental in the successful declaration of the zone.
The Governor’s high-powered delegation included Hon. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem, representing the Ajaokuta Federal Constituency; the Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Aliyu Nda Salami; and the Auditor General for Local Government, Hon. Yakubu Adabenege.
This unified front underscores the local and state-level commitment to the project. As the project takes off, officials believe its strategic location at the confluence of Nigeria’s North and South will unlock the country’s largest industrial corridor, driving massive export expansion, sustainable job creation, and a significant boost to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).