FG. to NEPZA make Calabar an economic hub

The Federal Government has given directives to the Nigerian Export Processing Authority (NEPZA) to make Calabar Free Trade Zone one of the  pilot industrial city in the country.

The new managing director of NEPZA Emmanuel Jime disclosed this in an interview with Business day in Calabar.

The new MD who also visited governor Ben Ayade and Calabar Free Trade Zone and Tinapa Business Resort said in other to make Calabar an economic hub, President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen Calabar as one of the cities to benefit from such activities.

The MD also appealed to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State to assist in the dredging of the Calabar Channel and the interferences of the state government through the wharf landing fees and other levies which are at variance with the NEPZA Act No. 63 of 1992.

. He said the land extension of about 98.024 hectares was graciously released in2002 by the administration of  Donald Duke to meet up increasing demand for land. However, the celebration was short – lived as the land was revoked by the last administration on the premise of overriding public interest for the Gulf Club.

Prior to the revocation  the Zone management had already allocated substantial parts of the land to investors in the Zone with committed investment of about USD 450 Million and expected direct employment of about 5, 000 in the 1^st three years.

However, after five years of the revocation some parts of the land is still utilized and gully erosion has defaced substantial portion of the land.

The MD said the Zone has attracted over 11,000 (direct and indirect employment from inception till date and still attracting Technology transfer/skill acquisition from FDI and Nigerian companies located in the zone such as Skyrun International FZE, M – Saleh Engineering FZE, Agrim International FZE, combination industries FZE, General Electric FZE, Mark Sino International FZE, Bao Yao Iron and Steel FZE, Combination Industries FZE and Oil & Gas Companies etc. as many of the indigenes of the state are employed by these companies.

The Calabar FTZ has also attracted revenue to the state in terms of PAYE, rents and backward linkages.

It has also facilitated MoU between General Electric FZE and host community of Ikot Ansa.

It has granted scholarships to the host community and contributed to building of schools, clinics and police station by Enterprises in the Zone e.g. North West Petroleum & Gas FZE  donation of security patrol vehicles to the State Government by the Oil & Gas Group FZT to boost security.

In his remarks governor Ben  Ayade promised to assist in the dredging of the Calabar channel and restore back the land to the management of the zone.