By Blessing Otobong-Gabriel
Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, has waded into the rift between the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, and Abuja Technology Village Free Zone over the looming revocation of land allocated to the zone.
The move followed a legal tussle triggered by a recent announcement by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike that government had resolved to revoke land titles within the technology hub to pave way for a new urban development project.
NEPZA’s intervention was contained in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Martins Odeh, yesterday.
According to the statement, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, Olufemi Ogunyemi, appealed to operators and investors in the ATV Free Zone to immediately withdraw their lawsuit against the FCT administration to allow for an amicable resolution.
“I have come to discuss with the minister on the importance of supporting Abuja Technology Village to succeed, while also promoting the development of Abuja City Walk project. We must work together to achieve this for the good of our nation,” Ogunyemi said during a visit to the FCTA.
Tension had escalated after Wike, on Monday, revealed plans to repossess the ATV land, citing the need to kick off the Abuja City Walk, a Dubai-style mixed-use urban centre spanning over 200 hectares along the Airport Road corridor.
Wike said the project, a flagship under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, would include residential, commercial, medical and institutional spaces, and reposition Abuja as a global investment destination.
But in response, ATV stakeholders dragged the administration to court in a bid to halt the planned revocation.
Appealing for dialogue, Ogunyemi stated that the continued support for the growth of the Free Trade Zones Scheme would benefit the economy and FCT’s development, emphasising that the FCT administration recognised the scheme’s potentials to accelerate industrialisation.
He expressed delight at the steps taken by the minister to expand the economic frontier of the FCT through the proposed Abuja City Walk project.
The NEPZA boss explained that the Authority is preparing to assess the 63 licensed Free Trade Zones across the country to vet their functionality and contributions to the nation’s Foreign Direct Investment and export drives.
On his part, Wike reaffirmed his readiness to collaborate with NEPZA to resolve the impasse, saying the future of Abuja’s economic landscape depends on harmonising trade and infrastructural development.
“We must fulfil Mr President’s promises regarding industrialisation, trade and investment. In this context, the FCT will collaborate with NEPZA to review the future of ATV, a zone that was sponsored and supported by the FCT administration,” the minister said.
Wike noted that while government welcomes investments, landowners and operators must also fulfil their obligations to the territory.
“We are determined to enforce compliance and ensure that land allocated for developmental purposes is not left idle or misused,” he said.
