.As Ogunyemi takes over from Prof. Adesugba as MD

The newly appointed Managing Director of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) Dr. Olorunfemi Ogunyemi has said that the agency will focus in ensuring that all the Free Trade Zones (FTZs)] spread across the country are properly listed on the nation’s stock exchange to further attract investors and boost the economy.

Ogunyemi stated this yesterday while taking over the NEPZA mantle of leadership as the new MD from the immediate past Chief Executive, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba.

Ogunyemi said, “Our new vision for this agency is to ensure that all existing FTZs in the country are listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange to further attract foreign investors. We also hope to digitise all of our operations in line with global standards to better drive the mandate of NEPZA in line with best practices.”

Prof. Adesugba is one of the 14th Chief Executive Officers under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment removed from office by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu last week.

Speaking further, Ogunyemi explained that he would immediately embark on official visits to the FTZs areas across the country to ascertain the challenges facing several of them that has made it difficult to function optimally like those of Lagos and Calabar.

He said: ‘’To kick-start my job is to embark on routine visits to our Free Trade Zones areas to look at their peculiar problems as they relate to poor infrastructure, land issues, other challenges facing our investors and stakeholders to be able to make case to government for immediate solutions, the FTZs no doubt, have become more important for the government to drive and promote investments that will create jobs and earn foreign exchange for the country especially now.”

He promised to build on the achievements recorded by Prof. Adesugba, whom he described as a personality, who gave all for the development of the sub-sector.

He called on stakeholders and staff of the agency to work with him so that the purpose for the establishment of the agency would be realized.

Earlier, Prof. Adesugba, who assumed office three years ago, called on the National Assembly to amend the existing NEPZA Act to allow stakeholders play their various roles without infractions

Prof. Adesugba cautioned the NEPZA new Chief Executive to be focused and ensure he is not distracted from his responsibility of driving the sector to greater heights.

“Dr. Ogunyemi is my brother, who has passion for excellence, he is a hard-working personality; I have confidence in his ability to further push the gains of NEPZA to greater dimension, my advice to him is that he should not allow himself to be distracted by NASS or the Ministry’s Authority to lose focus in ensuring that the agency drive investments for Nigeria’s advantage.”