The federal government on Wednesday, February, 4, inaugurated the governing board of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), expressing confidence that the sector will deliver double-digit growth to Nigeria’s economy by 2030.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Jumoke Oduwole, the minister of industry, trade and investment, said the board’s performance would be measured by outcomes rather than processes.
The board, chaired by Lydia Kalat Musa, comprises Ikechukwu Onyemekara, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, Frank Onyebu, Jani Ibrahim, Etido Thomas Usoroh, Augustine Uchechukwu Kalu, Joseph Yilwa, George Nwangwu, and Adie Emmanuel.
“The performance of the board would not be judged by the number of meetings held, but by tangible outcomes such as projects delivered, investments attracted and retained, jobs created, and value added to Nigeria’s exports,” Oduwole said.
The minister charged the board to bring clarity, discipline and innovation to the oil and gas free zones by closing implementation gaps and ensuring that government incentives translate into measurable economic value.
She said OGFZA’s mandate includes licensing and regulation, infrastructure provision, coordination of public and private sector stakeholders, establishment of customs and security frameworks within the zones, and resolution of labour and commercial disputes.
Oduwole acknowledged challenges such as infrastructure deficits, security concerns, inter-agency coordination gaps, and operational bottlenecks, assuring that the government is addressing them deliberately and systematically.
Also speaking, John Enoh, minister of state for industry, trade and investment, described the inauguration as a renewed commitment to Nigeria’s industrial transformation at a critical moment in the country’s economic journey.
Enoh said the constitution of the board was the fulfilment of a statutory mandate, shaped by current economic realities rather than a symbolic exercise.
He said Nigeria recently approved a national industrial policy, signalling a shift towards productivity, value creation, and export-led growth.
He said the timing of the board’s inauguration underscored the urgency of translating policy into measurable performance.
Enoh added that OGFZA was established to attract investment, enable production, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in Africa and the global economy, noting that free trade and processing zones are designed to serve as engines of industrialisation and export growth.
In her remarks, Oduwole thanked president Bola Tinubu and the federal government for the confidence reposed in the board.
She pledged that, working with management and stakeholders, the board would reposition OGFZA as a preferred destination for local and foreign investors, anchored on excellence, accountability and national development.
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