By Ojotule Romanus
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has officially unveiled the Ajaokuta Economic City project.
The initiative which is a newly designated Free Trade Zone (FTZ), is expected to attract between $2billion and $5 billion in Foreign Direct Investment to Nigeria in seven (7) years .
A average of $500 million in foreign direct investment each year in addition to opening up to 50,000 job opportunities.
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The project is an offshoot of the strategic partnership between the Kogi State Government led by Governor Ododo and the Zhuzhou Municipal Government of Hunan Province, China, under the Kogi-Hunan Sister Province Relationship.
Speaking during a press conference for the unavailing of the Ajaokuta Economic City in Abuja, Governor Odoodo, said the project is one of the most transformative and visionary economic project undertaken in the history of Nigeria.
Governor Ododo assured investors and partners that the project would operate under a dedicated security framework to protect lives, infrastructure and capita.
In addition, he said the state has reached out to investors from across the world to come and key into the project.
He reassured that the State Government would provide best friendly investment policies and secured environment for their business to thrive.
His words, “it is with a deep sense of fulfillment and optimism that I stand before you today to announce a monumental milestone in the economic evolution of our dear State. This is the beginning of a new economic era, one that will redefine how Kogi State participates in national and global commerce for generations to come.
“Today, we unveil the Ajaokuta Economic City, the Kogi–Hunan Free Trade Zone, a project whose scale, purpose, and transformative potential places it among the most visionary economic undertakings in the history of our nation.
“This approval and formal recognition did not come by chance. It is the product of rigorous technical evaluations, intergovernmental collaboration, strategic consultations with investors, and months of high-level engagements with development partners from the People’s Republic of China. What we celebrate today is the birth of a new economic engine that will power job creation, industrialization, global trade integration, and technological advancement for our people.
“Let me begin by expressing profound gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his exemplary leadership and untiring support for this project. Mr. President’s swift approval of the Ajaokuta Economic City after thorough due diligence, demonstrates his firm commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and his belief in Kogi State as a strategic industrial hub for the nation.
“His love for our state has been both inspiring and reassuring, and we deeply appreciate his consistent efforts toward making Kogi a prosperous, economically independent, and industrially advanced State. When we speak of fostering economic revolution, this project stands out as a shining example of what transformational leadership can achieve”
“We also owe immense gratitude to our institutional partners whose expertise and dedication have enriched this project. I want to sincerely appreciate the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) for its unmatched guidance and professional support throughout this journey. Our appreciation extends to NACCIMA, NEZA, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the IRS Group, and all our private sector allies who believed in this vision and worked tirelessly with us to bring it to life. Your contributions have been indispensable, and Kogi State remains grateful for your partnership and confidence.
“Let me also thank the great people of Kogi State for their trust in me, not just as their Chief Servant but also as their Chief Negotiator, to ensure that our collective interests are protected and to foster economic prosperity for our people from Suku Kiri to Egbe and from Obangede to Ibaji. My team and I are grateful. We shall continue to push the frontiers of development, and I assure you that we are determined to ensure Kogi State attains her full prosperous potential”.
Governor Ododo emphasised that the significance of the Free Trade Zone is amplified by the unique geographical advantage of Kogi State. He added that the state’s borders with ten states including the Federal Capital Territory, making it the nation’s most strategic logistics gateway.
He further pointed out that Ajaokuta itself which is home to the largest steel complex in Africa by design, is a monumental symbol of Nigeria’s industrial promise.
Kogi State, he pointed out is a tourism jewel waiting to be fully explored, just as he added that the natural and strategic advantages make Kogi not just the right location for this Free Trade Zone, but the best location.
The Governor assured investors and partners that security remains an uncompromising priority for his administration.
According to him, his administration has strengthened intelligence operations, enhanced surveillance systems, and deepened collaboration with national security agencies and as such, the Ajaokuta Economic City would operate under a dedicated security framework to protect lives, infrastructure, and capital.
He further assured that the Free Trade Zone would not only attract large-scale industrial investments , but would also unlock opportunities in manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, technology, and innovation.
The governor went on to reassure stakeholders that the state owned institutions of learning, including the Federal University Lokoja; Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba; Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara; Kogi State University, Kabba; and polytechnics, would serve as critical partners in skills development, research, and innovation support for the industries that would flourish within this Zone.
By these moves, “we are ensuring that the jobs created will be matched by a skilled, globally competitive workforce”.
“Today we plant the seed of generational prosperity. Ajaokuta Economic City is a bold statement of intent. It tells the world that Kogi State is ready to lead, ready to innovate, ready to industrialize, and ready to compete globally. The Kogi–Hunan Free Trade Zone project is now officially unveiled, and I invite investors from across the world to seize the limitless opportunities it presents. Our policies are friendly, our environment is secure, our people are industrious, and our commitment is indomitable. Together, we are setting the stage for unprecedented economic growth.
“On behalf of the Government and the good people of Kogi State, I extend gratitude to all who have supported this vision. Let us continue to work together until we birth a world-class Free Trade Zone in Ajaokuta, build a more prosperous Kogi and a more prosperous Nigeria”. He concluded.
