Project handling: FG backs seaport operator over space acquisition

THE Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has said that it would render all necessary support to the Eko Support Services Limited to enable the terminal operator realise its full potential as a free trade facility. Managing Director/Ceo of the OGFZA, Umana Okon Umana, gave this assurance recently during a tour of the Eko Support Terminal at Apapa port, Lagos. This is even as he added that the authority is ready to grant the terminal a sub-zone license and create an annex to improve its operations.

Umana noted that the terminal is listed on the authority’s brochure as one of the free trade zones in Nigeria and that the OGFZA under his watch is committed to ensuring that it succeeds.

He assured that Eko Support Terminal would be offered a Sub-zone license to acquire a stand-alone enterprise where other free zone activities including warehousing, fabrication would be taking place outside the ports.

According to the OGFZA boss, “I know that to optimally use this place you would definitely need space and that is why we are thinking outside the box about sub-zones, it happens in other climes, you can have a stand-alone enterprise depending on the value added to the economy, you can be licensed as a subzone with full benefit even if there is no jetty.

“We can work something out with you to acquire land somewhere and it is annexed, all you have to do is put in place a proper management structure so that all the interested parties would know what is expected of them including the Police, Customs and Immigration in order to be a one stop facility.

“The authorities under me have determined to ensure that our free zones succeed, I would set up a committee to address all your challenges to ensure that in the shortest possible time the zone becomes operational” he said.

Speaking earlier, Managing Director of Eko Support Services Limited, Mr Seni Edu, pointed out that one of the major challenges of the terminal is space. According to him, the terminal had been assigned to handle equipment required for the construction of the much anticipated Dangote Refinery and other oil and gas project cargoes.