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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Sequel to the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), the Federal Government has expressed confidence that the sector will contribute double-digit growth to Nigeria’s economy by 2030.
The Board which is composed of seasoned professionals is Chaired by Lydia Kalat Musa and other members like Ikechukwu Onyemekara, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, Frank Onyebu, Jani Ibrahim, Etido Thomas Usoroh, Augustine Uchechukwu Kalu, Joseph Yilwa, George Nwangwu and Adie Emmanuel.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, yesterday, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the performance of the board would not be judged by the number of meetings held, but by tangible outcomes such as projects delivered, investments attracted and retained, jobs created, and value added to Nigeria’s exports.
Oduwole charged the board to bring clarity, discipline and innovation to the system by closing implementation gaps and ensuring that government incentives translate into measurable economic value for the country.
According to her, OGFZA’s mandate includes licensing and regulation, provision of infrastructure, coordination of public and private sector actors, establishment of customs and security frameworks within the zones, and the resolution of labour and commercial disputes.
She acknowledged existing challenges ranging from infrastructure deficits and security concerns to inter-agency coordination and operational bottlenecks, but stressed that these issues are being addressed deliberately and systematically.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, described the inauguration as a “renewed commitment to Nigeria’s industrial transformation at a critical point in the nation’s economic journey.”
He emphasized that the constitution of the board was neither accidental nor symbolic, but the fulfilment of a statutory mandate established by law and shaped by current economic realities.
Enoh noted that Nigeria has recently approved a National Industrial Policy, signalling a decisive shift toward productivity, value creation and export-led growth.
With the formal unveiling of the policy imminent, he said the timing of the board’s inauguration underscored the urgency of translating policy into performance.
He recalled that OGFZA was created to attract investment, enable production and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness within Africa and the global economy, adding that processing and free trade zones are meant to serve as engines of industrialisation, export growth and value addition.
He therefore urged the board to see its role as a call to stewardship, service and measurable impact, beyond routine governance meetings.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Lydia Kalat Musa, expressed appreciation to the President and the Federal Government for the confidence reposed in the board members.
She pledged that, with the support of management and stakeholders, the board would reposition OGFZA as a partner of choice for local and foreign investors, anchored on excellence, accountability and national development.
