Specialised Economic Zones (SEZ) Project

There is a growing trend of developing Specialised Economic Zones (SEZs) or Free Trade Zones (FTZs)  in Nigeria, facilitated by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA). Data from NEPZA shows a total of 27 operational FTZs in Nigeria, 12 under construction and 19 inactive.

As notably practiced by numerous countries including China, United Arab Emirates(UAE), Singapore, South Africa, and Morocco among others, FTZs are special vehicles for rapid industrialization and economic development. As a country struggling to develop its local economy, Nigeria cannot afford to have so many inoperative and sub-optimal FTZs.

Having studied developments in other countries that have deployed the FTZ strategy, we have identified the development of FTZs in Nigeria as a major economic opportunity that needs to be fully explored.

Beyond economic development through industrial parks, free trade zones offer a huge promise for urban renewal through the development of new modern cities in Nigeria. Eko Atlantic City is rising steadily as the leading urban development project in Nigeria while Lekki Free Trade Zone is fast becoming a major success story with the Dangote refinery as the leading industrial project in the zone. With vision alignment amongst all stakeholders, we can enhance and replicate such SEZ success stories across the country, thereby significantly improving Nigeria’s chances of emerging as a global economic power, soon.

Our SEZ Nigeria project is designed to promote such vision alignment for deploying the various forms of Specialised Economic Zones, as a strategy for accelerated industrialization, economic development, and urban renewal, in Nigeria. 

Our SEZ workshops and conferences target various stakeholders, including the host communities,  government officials, university faculties, media, industrialists,  estate developers, and other members of the business community. As part of the project, we will also be producing news articles, academic journal articles, policy briefs, documentaries and contributing to policy formulation  and/or amendments. With funding from our partner, Atlas Network, we were able to participate in a Shark Tank competition at the Universidad De La Libertad in Mexico in August, 2024.

While discussions are ongoing with partners and potential partners, our workshops and conferences on the project are planned to commence in the first quarter of 2025.

For partnerships and further inquiries, please contact us.

Inset: Nigeria International Commerce City (Eko Atlantic).