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FG Licences Eight Free Zones To Boost Revenue

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11 years ago

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Indication has emerged that the Federal Government has licensed Eight Free Zones in the country to operate in order to boost government’s revenue generation.
Speaking to The Tide in Port Harcourt on Friday, a Senior Liaison Officer of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) Mr. Lawal Bashorun, said the newly Licensed Free Zones will help to fast-track revenue generation and enhance efficiency of the Free Zones authority.
Bashorun said he was in Port Harcourt on assessement of the operational guidelines of the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority with a view to setting proper operational guideline for the newly licensed free zones.
He said the newly Licensed Free Zones have started to attract investments already, stressing that these Free Zones will provide solid foundation for a stronger economy and greatly improve the standard of living of Nigerians.
Bashorun said the federal government approved the establishment of the new Free Zones based in the methodology and operational guidelines put in place for assessing the Free Zones authority.
He said the newly Licensed Free Zones include, the Centenary City Free Zone specifically approved for business and Tourism Destination, Ogogoro Industrial Park Lagos, for Oil and gas-related activities, Nigeria International Commerce City, Lagos, Badagry Creek Industrial Park Lagos.
Others are Nigeria Aviation handling Company (NAHCO) Free Zone Lagos, Dangote Refinery/Petro-Chemical park Lagos, Lekki Deep Sea Port currently under Lagos Free Trade Zone Lagos, Samsung Heavy Industries and Mega Construction Integrated under the management of LADOL and Free Zone.
The NEPZA official said the agency is seeking the views of stakeholders  on the appropriateness of establishing Kogi Industrial Park to accommodate the Kogi Automotive Industrial Cluster.
Bashorun said NEPZA is discussing with the federal government for the establishment of another Free Zone in Cross Rivers.
He explained that foreign partners are ready to invest in the Free Zones especially Japan’s government which has proposed to help develop an Authomative Council in Calabar in conjunction with major stakeholders.
He enjoined Nigerians to support stakeholders in the authomative council for the much needed revenue generation to be realizable.

General Manager, Bayelsa CSDA, Eve O. Oboro (left) with Head of Operations CDDS - Piu, Mr. Samuel Dabipisimaka (right) at the two days workshop and training for LGRC/Desk Officers organized by Rivers State Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs in collaboration with SEEFOR Rivers State Community Driven Development Social (CDDS) Piu at Ministry of Justices.

General Manager, Bayelsa CSDA, Eve O. Oboro (left) with Head of Operations CDDS – Piu, Mr. Samuel Dabipisimaka (right) at the two days workshop and training for LGRC/Desk Officers organized by Rivers State Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs in collaboration with SEEFOR Rivers State Community Driven Development Social (CDDS) Piu at Ministry of Justices.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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