NEPZA moves to halt FCTA’s revocation of Abuja Technology land title

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has stepped in to resolve the dispute between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Abuja Technology Village (ATV), a licensed Free Trade Zone, over the potential revocation of the zone’s land title.

According to a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications at NEPZA, Martins Odeh, PhD, the Managing Director of the Authority, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, urged ATV operators and investors to withdraw the lawsuit filed against the FCT Administration immediately to facilitate a roundtable negotiation.

The statement noted that, while on a courtesy visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike in Abuja, Dr Ogunyemi stated that continued support for the growth of the Free Trade Zones Scheme would benefit the nation’s economy and the FCT’s development, emphasising that the FCT Administration recognised the scheme’s potential to accelerate industrialisation.

He expressed his delight at the steps taken by the FCT Minister to expand the economic frontier of the FCT through the proposed Abuja City Walk (ACW) project.

The statement further indicated that Dr Ogunyemi explained that the Authority was preparing to assess all 63 licensed Free Trade Zones across the country with a view to vetting their functionality and contributions to the nation’s foreign direct investment and export drives.

“I have come to discuss with His Excellency, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the importance of supporting the ATV to succeed while also promoting the development of the Abuja City Walk project. We must work together to achieve this for the good of our nation,” he said.

On his part, the FCT Minister reiterated his unwavering determination to work towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by bringing foreign direct investment to the FCT.

“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.”

He also said that efforts were underway to fast-track the industrialisation process of the territory with the construction of the Abuja City Walk.

The Minister further explained that the Abuja City Walk project was planned to cover over 200 hectares in the Abuja Technology Village corridor along Airport Road.

According to the statement, the Minister noted that the business ecosystem aimed to create a lively, mixed-use urban centre with residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, medical, and institutional facilities.

The statement added that Wike also expressed his continued resolve to pursue land and property owners who failed to fulfil their obligations to the FCT, in his determination to develop the territory.

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