NEPZA schemes have direct linkage to employment generation —Adesugba

The Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, has declared that the scheme and other activities of the authority would substantially help in addressing the huge high-level unemployment in the country if properly done and implemented.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, Prof. Adesugba, said the scheme has a direct linkage to employment generation, hence, it is very important to see the benefit, do it properly, implement it properly and see the end results.

He admitted that the issue of high-level unemployment is one of the major crises and problems in the country, but believes that NEPZA activities would help, tremendously, in the area of job creation.

Adesugba, who linked the high unemployment rate to Nigeria’s population growth and explosion, stated that this was where the scheme comes in useful if Nigeria could use it like China did to enhance the number of production outlets.

Specifically, he pointed out that if Nigeria followed the China example, the Free Trade Zones, would definitely employ thousands of Nigerians, adding that NEPZA was already working with many organisations, companies and state governments who are very proactive and investor-friendly.

Prof. Adesugba said: “This is an area I have always felt disturbed at because of the population and birth rate in Nigeria. It is so high that development is not meeting up with the increase in the birth rate. I think Nigeria population growth rate is about 2.3 to 2.6 per cent per annum, which means that every year, we have about five million new Nigerians born. That is wholesome because that’s a small country.

“So, every year, we have a small country. Now we are saying we are between 260 and 280 million, we can’t even be exact at any point in time because of the number of children we are having. If we don’t plan well, it would lead to a lot of poverty and that is what we now see and definitely, it could also lead to insecurity. If you don’t plan for that kind of population, you are bound to have a very high level of insecurity.

“This is where the scheme comes in useful. If we can use this scheme like China did to enhance the number of production outlets that we have in Nigeria, they will definitely employ Nigerians and it would also have multiplier effects in such areas like SMEs, the micro-industries that will feed the main industry within the zones and these will all be located in Nigeria.

“So, for each company that we set up, we expect to have a multitude of people that will be employed directly and indirectly. That’s why we always look at the feasibility study and the business plans to see how many Nigerians are going to be employed. And I will implore you to go to the Dangote Free Zone, when they close or resume, or when they change shift, you see the multitude of over 10,000 Nigerians going in and out.

“That is the kind of thing we want to see more. If you go to LADOL, the number of Nigerians that we intend to have back to work, over 3,000 indirect and direct, if you go to Alaro City, by the time that city is completed it would be amazing. Also is the Kano Free Trade Zone, Calabar Free Trade Zone, and if we can resuscitate most of the companies that have shut down due to COVID-19, we intend to have another 2,000 employed immediately. We are working very hard and seriously to ensure that this is done.”

Also on the collaboration with state governments, the NEPZA boss said: “This brings me to the government schemes which is going to have a direct effect on employment generation. We have a scheme going on in Funtua in Katsina State. We have one in Lagos State and we have one in Kwara State at the moment. We want to continue with these schemes once we have the funding, we have plans to move to Sokoto, Osun State, Ebonyi State. We have been speaking directly to the governor of Taraba.

“We want to deal with the states where the government is very proactive and investor-friendly. So, we have been speaking with Taraba State, we will be working very closely with them in setting up their Special Economic Zones. Lately, we have also had meetings with Delta State and the state government is also a very proactive state when it comes to attracting investment. So, we are working with them. We are also working with international financial organizations such as the African Development Bank.

“So, the scheme has a direct linkage to employment generation. That is why it is very important we see the benefit and do it properly, implement it properly and see the results.”

Prof. Adesugba commended President Muhammadu Buhari, who has since visited China to see how China has been able to utilize the scheme successfully having over 3,000 special economic zones, done everything to ensure that the Special Economic Free Zones are replicated in Nigeria.

He pointed out that though, NEPZA has been established since 1992, he said President Buhari decided to replicate what he saw when he travelled to China within the Nigeria context, using NEPZA as a platform, adding that the President has been supporting the scheme wholeheartedly since then.

Prof. Adesugba also commended the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Niyi Adebayo, and the Minister of State, Maryam Katagum, who have been very supportive of all their programmes and doing everything within their powers to ensure that Nigeria economic development is on track.

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