The Federal Government has restated commitment to make Ekiti State a major Free Trade Zone in Nigeria.
The government said this would support the state in delivering economic and knowledge free zone where education-based industries and technological companies could operate.
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said this during a courtesy visit to the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Thursday.
Adesugba said the establishment of the economic zone would boost the economy of the state and increase its Internally Generated Revenue as well as reduce over-reliance on federal allocation.
He commended Ekiti government for being proactive by creating education and knowledge zone.
The NEPZA boss gave the assurance that the free trade zone would be ready within 18 months, adding that he was in Ekiti to confirm the commitment of the Federal Government toward the successful completion of the project.
He called on drivers and captains of industries to invest in the state when the zone was ready.
”Ekiti is known for education and ideas innovation and this is where we are going to show the world that Nigeria has arrived,” he said.
The NEPZA managing director further said that the first thing was to get presidential declaration to make Ekiti a free zone.
”Oyebanji has given a matching order and within 18 months, we will get so many industries, both virtual and on-sight there,” he said.
Adesugba gave the assurance that people were already planning and working, and on the part of NEPZA, it would ensure the approval of the president.
In his remarks, Oyebanji said there was the need for the Federal Government to fast-track the completion of the project to attract more investors to the state, adding that productivity would always lead to shared prosperity.