been drawn to news reports in some newspapers to the effect that the
Centenary Economic City Free Zone, Tomaro Free Zone and Abuja Technology
Village (ATV) Free Zone are inactive Free Zones.
Such stories are false, and derive from a misrepresentation of what the
Managing Director (Ag), Engr. Terhemba Nongo, said during the MD’s
Half-Year Media Interaction with newsmen on 11th September, 2019 at
NEPZA Headquarters.
The Authority wishes to refute the false news, and category state that
the Centenary Economic Free Trade Zone, TOMARO Free Zone and ABUJA
TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE Free Zone are not inactive Free Zones, and cannot,
therefore, be listed among the inactive Free Zones in the country.
What happened was this: After the MD spoke about the Authority’s plans
for inactive Zones, a journalist wanted to know the status of the
Centenary Economic City, and the MD said although the Zone had issues
prior to 2015, since the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari, the
matters have all been resolved, and developments are on-going at the
Zone, with more and more investors coming.
And it is because the Zone is now very active that the Authority’s
In-House Newsmagazine, the Industrialization Digest, proudly featured it
on the cover of its 10th Edition in December 2018!
It is, inconceivable, therefore, that a news report would list the Zone
and others like Tomaro and Abuja Technology Village (which were not even
mentioned) as “inactive,” and attribute the source of such an
inaccuracies to NEPZA.
For emphasis, the Centenary Economic City, Tomaro as well as Abuja
Technology Village Free Zones are all active. Furthermore, the general
public and all the Zones’ stakeholders are advised to ignore any report
to such effect.
Simon Imobo-Tswam
Head, Corporate Communications: NEPZA