Industrialization Digest NEPZA Vol. 3 No. 2 A Quarterly magazine of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority Third/Fourth Quarter, June - December, 2020 Reinvigorating FTZs/ The Free Trade Zone SEZs Operations Concept: Through Research Gains & Prospects NEPZA and The Changing Nigeria’s Economic Trajectory Leveraging Special Economic Zones for African Industrialisation and Integration HOW WE ARE RETOOLING NEPZA Prof. Adesoji Adesugba Checklist For Setting Up Impact of COVID-19 on NEPZA–ASCSN: In Pursuit A Free Zone In Nigeria NEPZA Workplace Ethics of Development Unionism WELCOME TO THE CITY OF THE FUTURE CENTENARY ECONOMIC CITY FREE ZONE 2 www.centenarycityfze.com CONTENTS 06 How we are Retooling NEPZA Prof. Adesoji Adesugba reveals in an interview with our crew ... 10 Checklist For Setting Up 15 NEPZA News in Brief 22 Leveraging A Free Zone In Nigeria New NEPZA Boss Assumes Office, Special Economic Charges Staff on Improved Productivity Zones for African 40 Companies Bid For NEPZA Industrialisation and Constituency Projects Integration 28 Impact of COVID-19 32 Responding to AfCFTA, 36 Chief Executive on NEPZA Workplace Post-Pandemic Officers’ Desks Ethics Through SEZs 3 EDITORIAL captures some of the vitally important systemic reviews, repositioning, and reorganization of the agency based on the new helmsman strategic plan hitherto engraved in the mandate, vision, and mission of the Authority. In the spirit of the Managing Director’s 100 days in office, Adesugba in an interview with our crew reveals what he met on the ground, his strategic plan, and approach to free trade zone EDITORIAL ADVISORY development and management. The BOARD essence of the free trade zone scheme The Industrialization Digest remains with an overall focus on leading Publisher/Editor-In-Chief: the official purveyor of quarterly news Nigeria’s industrialization process Prof. Adesoji Adesugba information of the Nigeria Export is further underpinned by mouth- Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). watering analysis by our writers, guest Members: First, we would like to apologize writers, and contributors. This edition Bitrus Dawuk to the stakeholders and the entire also critically enunciates the positive Oyekunle Oyesola Ph.D readership space to have skipped the inputs of private zones operators Yagana Abba Hassan production of the first and second and enterprises in the country’s Mohammed Hadi Ruma quarters. This edition is, however, economic growth in the pre-and Zainab Aliyu in place to compensate for the loss post-Covid-19 pandemic. Albeit, the grounds considering the weight of the Covid-19 pandemic has continued content anchored on the 100 days in to ravage the human and economies EDITORIAL CREW office of the new Managing Director, of countries, we remain hopeful that Prof. Adesoji Adesugba. Stakeholders the country is on its way to economic Editor: across both the Free Trade Zone and recovery. We, therefore, ensure that Martins O Odeh (mnipr) investment promotion spectrum this edition is an assemblage of the have described the appointment of public and private sectors as well as Editorial Support: the new NEPZA Chief Executive Office individual thoughts and suggestions Onyinye Adigwe (mnipr) by President Muhammadu Buhari as on practicable approaches to return Esther Adoo Gum an uncommon decision with grave the country to the path of economic Adewale Asmau Kume exactitude. This edition, therefore, growth. Sherifat Salihu Omeneke (NYSC) Editorial Support Service Sahel Standard Media Limited MISSION Photographer “To establish, licence, Lawrence Udeh Yaiko VISION regulate and operate “To establish highly efficient Free Industrial Zones of Industrialization Digest, published Zones by providing highly the highest quality by the Corporate Communications competitive Incentive Unit (CCU), is the official In-House that meet the needs schemes, excellent support Magazine of the Nigeria Export of investors and services for the purpose Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). ensure a diversified of creating an enabling No. 2, Zambesi Cresent, Off Aguyi economy” environment for export, Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja. manufacturing and other Tel: +234 978007, +234 701 683 4729 commercial activities” All Rights Reserved 4 5 COVER STORY How we are Retooling NEPZA... Prof. Adesoji Adesugba reveals in an interview with our crew Prof. Adesoji Adesugba Managing Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zone Agency (NEPZA) rof. Adesoji Adesugba, an accomplished investment promotion expert, appointment by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office as Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) on July 1, 2020. This quintessential Chief Executive POfficer of one of Nigeria’s strategic agency to ignite and sustain the growth of the country’s economic ecosystem has settled down in 100 days to tenaciously carry out the onerous task of spurring the Authority to drive the country’s industrialization. Adesugba obtained his doctorate in Business Administration with the highest distinction from the California Southern University in the USA. He has an M.Sc. degree in Investment Promotion and Economic Development from the Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland, UK, and his MBA from the Ogun State University in Nigeria. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos in 1981. The new NEPZA chief executive officer is an accomplished specialist in Investment Promotion and Economic Development, a lawyer. This top captain of a global industry is known for his proficiency in organizational development and institutional reforms. He has combined the best in private sector entrepreneurial acumen with an expert ability to navigate public sector practice. Prof. Adesugba remains our top personality for this edition as we join the rest of the NEPZA family, stakeholders, friends, and associates to celebrate his 100 days in office. In an interview with our crew, the managing director tells us why he is retooling the Authority and the free trade zone scheme for job creation, revenue generation, economic growth, as well as for industrialization in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives. Below are excerpts from the questions and answers as compiled by Martins Odeh, Head, Corporate Communications/Editor. 6 COVER STORY How do you see your appointment as place since my resumption. These have Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria helped to provide a clearer understanding Export Processing Zones Authority, of our mandate and have improved the NEPZA? relationship with our stakeholders to It seems like I have been prepared for enable us jointly work towards the success this time throughout my whole career of the free trade / special economic as a public servant. From my days in zone industry in Nigeria. Another key the Nigerian Customs Service where I priority is to increase the number of gained my first leadership experience in “functional and optimal SEZ’s” and supervising new recruits, to Bureau for our strategic plan over the next three Public Enterprise (BPE) and the Nigeria years will focus on the revitalization the Investment Promotion Commission existing zones under NEPZA’s purview. (NIPC). It is an honour and a privilege We have 42 registered zones and only to be called to serve in NEPZA. As one 22 are functional so we seek to change of the major parastatals contributing this narrative. Our plans also include to Nigeria’s economic development, the creation of SEZ models of global my appointment as the MD/CEO is an best practice by establishing world class opportunity to use my experience and “plug and play” technically driven zones expertise to support the industrialization an providing an enabling environment agenda of His Excellency, President for business in the following thematic Muhammadu Buhari, who pronounced areas; MEDICAL, MINING, TECHNOLOGY, Prof Adésojí Adésugbà DBA,MBA, FCIArb(UK) the use of Special Economic Zones AGRICULTURE. Discussions are currently (SEZ’s) as a policy tool to drive Nigeria’s underway with stakeholders and industrialization agenda. potential investors for the creation of Over 15,000 direct and 30,000 indirect a Medical and Pharmaceutical SEZ as jobs have been created. Despite this, Can you tell us your strategic plans part of the post COVID-19 interventions. challenges still affect optimal operations and the positive changes you want see As the first medical SEZ in Nigeria, it within the zones which is a risk to happen in the Authority under your will provide world class, in-country current investors and could deter future watch? healthcare comparable to the standards investments. Poor infrastructure, such With the support of the dedicated and that Nigerians seek abroad. It will help as access roads, power and water are a competent management team of NEPZA, reduce the high levels of medical tourism common challenge across the zones and we are focused on building Nigeria’s from Nigeria and also service the African consideration is being given to engage competitive advantage, broadening market. in PPP arrangements to address these the scope of industry in order to create challenges. Another key challenge is the jobs and promoting exports, to facilitate You have gone on the first round of lack of understanding of the concept of economic growth. We aim to improve inspection tours of free trade zones in “free” as it relates to free zone operations the investment climate in Nigeria by Kano, Lagos and Calabar. What can you by some government agencies whose providing incentives