Jigawa State Government has secured an official Export Processing Zone license from the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), marking a major milestone in the development of the Maigatari Export Processing Zone.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Aminu Kanta AK, during a site visit by members of the Gumel Emirate Foundation and Hadejia Development Association to the Maigatari Processing Zone.
Alhaji Aminu Kanta noted that the acquisition of the license signifies 60% completion of the project. He added that further steps towards full implementation include benchmarking visits to existing processing zones in Ogun, Lagos, Calabar, and Kano States.
Highlighting the government’s commitment, the Commissioner revealed that several critical infrastructure components are already in place, including warehouses, a bank, a clinic, a fire service unit, a radio station, and security services. These developments have already attracted some companies to invest, while others have expressed strong interest.
“The Export Processing Zone is projected to create approximately 100,000 employment opportunities, offering a transformative boost to the economy of the area,” Alhaji Kanta stated.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the Gumel Emirate Foundation, Alhaji Sani Ahmed Babandi, the Dan Amar of Gumel, commended Governor Malam Umar Namadi, FCA, for his dedication to reviving the project initially launched in 2003 by former Governor Ibrahim Saminu Turaki.
Alhaji Babandi praised the Governor as a visionary leader and called on the implementation committee to establish a public sensitization and resolution forum. This, he emphasized, would help raise community awareness about the economic benefits of the zone.
He also advocated for federal support in constructing a dual-lane truck road and a ring road around the zone to ease transportation and mitigate traffic challenges.
The site visit concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to ensure the success of the Maigatari Export Processing Zone, a project set to become a cornerstone of Jigawa State’s industrial and economic transformation.
Usman MZ
