FG, NEPZA mourn loss of pioneer free trade zone investor

The Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, has described the exit of Anwar Jarmakani as a huge loss to Nigeria’s business community.

Jarmakani is one of the country’s pioneer free trade zone investors, and founder and executive chairman of Jagal Conglomerate, owners of Niger-Dock FZE.

Adesugba made the remark in a statement he signed in Abuja.

The NEPZA Managing Director said the country has lost “a true patriot, a committed citizen, a passionate industrialist and a strong believer in the Nigerian industrialisation efforts.”

He said: “His passionate desire to see Nigeria overcoming its industrial developmental challenges knows no bounds and his readiness to support the Federal Government’s efforts to deploy various economic models for national development is indeed legendary.

“In the government’s drive to expand special economic zones for development, the late industrialist was leading support, offering his business technical prowess, goodwill and networks to ensure the realisation of this lofty agenda.

“He is to be a forward-thinking person, an older brother and mentor whose ideas were to revolutionise the free zone scheme.”

He explained that Jarmakani’s commitment towards active private sector involvement in the country’s free zone was second to none; stressing that both the Federal Government and the Authority would continually uphold that strategic vision of ensuring that the positive impact of the scheme was felt by all Nigerians.