General
NEPZA Corrects Error, Says N11.1bn Remitted in Three Years
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Export Process Zones of Authority (NEPZA) has disclosed that the country’s Free Trade Zones generated N11.1 billion between 2020 and 2023 as against the earlier N11.11 trillion wrongly captured in its submission to the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment.
The Managing Director of the agency, Mr Olufemi Ogunyemi, on Monday in Abuja described the initially quoted figure as a regrettable “typographical mishap.”
He stated that N377.33 million was generated in 2020 while N3.11 billion accrued to the Federation Account in 2021 from the scheme.
According to him, the total remittances from the scheme in 2022 stood at N3.44 billion while an impressive N4.170 billion came through in 2023.
“The attention of the management has been brought to the news making around that the Authority remitted a whopping sum of N11.11 trillion to the Federation Account as at October 2023. This piece of information was a classical typography error and it is regrettable.
“Let me emphatically state that the remittances from the Free Trade Zones from 2020 to 2023 stood at N11.1 billion only. We are however making good progress to take the scheme to that point where it can generate such huge revenue for the government.
“For instance, in 2023, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N59.38 billion, and the Immigration Services received N828.7 million from the free trade zones while the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) garnered N8.738 billion from the sub-sector,” he said.
Mr Ogunyemi also explained that the Authority was gradually transforming the scheme to become the country’s sustainable economic gateways, adding that more efforts and support were needed to position the scheme for greater exploitation.
“The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) is the major driver of the government’s initiative to diversify the Nigerian economy. With attractive investment packages and a focus on economy-driven sectors, NEPZA provides investment opportunities in different sectors across the country.
“At the moment, the scheme focuses on three critical investment areas which included manufacturing 45 per cent, services 30 per cent, and oil & gas with 11 per cent active investment exploitation,” Mr Ogunyemi said.
The scheme currently has 53 Free Trade Zones harbouring 580 enterprises with a cumulative $30 billion.
The authority collects 20 types of revenues ranging from $500,000 declaration fees, $60,000 annually as Operation License, OPL, and $300 to $500 registration fees in line with extant regulations on internally generated revenue, IGR.
There is also a $100 to $300 Examination fee and Documentation fee per transaction, which occurs on a daily basis, he disclosed.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos International Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos State was shut down on Wednesday by traders protesting the proposed takeover of the facility by state and local government authorities.
The aggrieved demonstrators emphasised that the complex belongs to the federal government, and if there is a transfer of ownership to the state and local governments, then stakeholders should be carried along.
They expressed concerns that handing over the trade fair complex to the duo could be disruptive, and traders may have to pay more taxes and levies, which will, in turn, result in higher prices of goods.
In protest of the planned takeover, the traders yesterday locked up their shops, especially those in the ASPANDA Market segment within the facility, where spare parts are sold.
Apparently worried about the situation, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms Jumoke Oduwole, visited the market to talk to the traders.
She urged them to reopen the complex, as efforts are being made by the federal government to resolve the issue amicably.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court order to extend the detention of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Nasir El-Rufai.
This order gives the anti-graft agency ample time to finalise its investigation into allegations against the former governor, which has now deepened as a result of some new findings.
Subsequently, the new order, which was granted on Tuesday in the presence of Mr El-Rufai’s lawyer, will expire on Thursday, March 19.
However, Mr El-Rufai’s lawyer, whose application to quash the first remand order was declined by a Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari, has returned to the same court to nullify the latest order.
Justice Okechukwu John Akweke has fixed March 17 to decide whether or not he should set aside the latest detention order.
He said, “Upon hearing and listening to the prosecuting counsel, Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha Esq., praying this Honourable court for the following orders:
“An order of this Honourable Court issuing a remand warrant against the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in favour of the Applicant, i.e. Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to detain the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in its custody for another fourteen (14) days pending conclusion of investigation activities on allegations of Money Laundering/abuse of office.
“And for such other or further order(s) as this Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances. It is hereby ordered that: Application granted as prayed.
“That the Applicant, i.e. the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ICPC is hereby ordered to re-detain the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) for an additional 14 days to enable the commission to conclude investigation activities.
“That the return date shall be the 19th day of March 2026, for the report of compliance.”
The scrutiny of Mr El-Rufai by the ICPC follows the report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s ad hoc committee constituted in 2024 to investigate finances, loans and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023 under his eight-year administration of the state.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has begun evacuating willing Nigerians in Iran, escorting them across the Armenian border to ensure their safety amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The evacuation follows the growing crisis that began on February 28 after coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The attacks triggered retaliatory missile and drone strikes across parts of the region, raising fears of a wider conflict.
The chief executive of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in a post on her X handle on Tuesday.
She said officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the evacuation of Nigerians who wish to leave the country and are facilitating their safe passage into Armenia.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also reassured that no Nigerian in Iran has so far been affected by the ongoing tensions, noting that embassy officials remain stationed at the border to receive and assist evacuees.
Her post read, “Willing Nigerians [are] being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian embassy in Iran for safe passage. No Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the war as officials remain at the border to receive all who want to leave.”
The development comes as tensions in parts of the Middle East continue to raise concerns over the safety of foreign nationals residing in affected areas.
For repatriation flights, the NiDCOM chair said the airspace is currently unsafe but assured Nigerians in the Middle East that the Federal Government team is on standby to evacuate them.
“And as for repatriation flights, the skies are currently unsafe to fly. Luckily, a flight came in from the UAE to Lagos two days ago, just before another strike and the closure of the airspace.
“Once the airspace opens, the multi-agency FG team on crisis and evacuation is on standby. Our prayers are with you and all our people in affected countries,” she said.
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