Oil, Gas Free Zone Provides 30,000 Jobs

The Oil and Gas Free Zone at Onne, Rivers State has provided 30,000 jobs to Nigerians since its inception about a decade ago.

Chairman of the Governing Board of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Ambassador Adamu Aliyu made this revealation recently during the official visit of the Minister of Commerce and industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye to the zone.

“As a result of the inflow of foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the zone, over 30,000 jobs have been created directly and indirectly”, he said.

Aliyu hinted that this achievement, though commendable is comparatively minute considering the potentials of the free zone.

The Oil and Gas free zone, Onne is recognised as a success story, judging by the level of growth of activities in the zone.

“In most cases, it takes an average free zone a minimum of 10 years to realize its potentials, but Onne free zone is different”, he explained.

This, he continued, is due to the fact that “the zone has rapidly developed within the first five years of existence as business generation has expanded, and investors continue to show interest in investing in the zone.

“Other achievements of the zone since its inception in August 2000, according to Aliyu, include licensing of over 132 companies, representing about 80 percent increase compared to the number of companies in existence before the coming of the Authority.

There has also been rapid increase in free zone activities in shipment and Cargo movements to an extent of 1000 per cent in most cases, with Onne Port being the second busiest Port in Nigeria.

This has culminated in tremendous increase in revenue earnings in associated sectors such as shipping lines and agencies clearing and forwarding agencies energy banking etc, which has impacted positively on Nigeria’s economy.

Generally, Aliyu said, there has been  government revenue earnings, particularly to customs, Ports Authority and federal Inland Revenue, with an estimated over five billion dollars in foreign Direct Investment (FDI) being attracted to the free zone.

Sogbeba Dokubo