Federal government has issued official licence to Delta State government for the operationalization of Delta State Special Economic Zone (DSEZ) in a ceremony that was held in Abuja yesterday.
The zone is specially designed for the resuscitation of the moribund cocoa seaport in the state. The cocoa processing zone is expected to attract multi-billion-naira investments in line with federal government’s improved domestic production drive. The first prospective investors have promised to invest N2 billion on the zone.
Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa who received the licence on behalf of his state said his administration is in a hurry to get the special economic zone work for Delta State and for Nigeria.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo said “This project, when fully executed, will not only create jobs, but also create wealth.” He said the federal government will do it can to make sure it supports the project to succeed.
Managing director of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority Prof. Adesoji Adesugba said “With the coming if AfCFTA, we need to be very competitive,” pointing to the existing export processing zones in almost all the countries bordering Nigeria.
Adesugba said absolute support of the government would be needed to actualise the objectives of the zone. “This certificate is very unique because it is covering quite a number of space in Delta State,” he added.
Okowa bragged that his state has a great advantage to succeed in the new front. He premised it on the massive gas and oil production in the state with much involvement in agriculture. “Putting all these things together, I believe we are set for this nation and the world,” he said.
“Delta State is relatively peaceful and we believe in our state, we have put everything in place to encourage investors to come in and invest. We also have the Warri Port. And we believe that the cocoa port is something that will be of great advantage to us,” the governor stated.
al airports in Asaba and Warri.
Okowa said his administration is ready to partner not only with NEPZA, but with the rest of Nigeria, the organized private sector and the global community to ensure “we are able to provide a competitive environment, peaceful and welcoming environment. And also work with the rest of Nigerians to ensure we are able to develop the human capital which will be needed for the growth of industries.
“We are ready to ensure that this special economic zone works for all,” he said,” adding that “our hands are wide open to receive investors into the economic zone.”
Despite fears that the project could be abandoned by the incoming administration, Dr Okowa said a lot of emphasis will be paid to the development of the special economic zone by his successor.
Nigeria’s four-time minister and lead consultant for DSEZ Prince Adetokunbo Kayode said the resuscitation of the free zone would emerge as one of the best decisions of the government. He said by actualizing the licence for formal operation of the zone, “governor Okowa has planted the seed for the dynamic industrial development of Delta State.”
