The Federal Government on Tuesday announced that it had approved the Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) as a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) as part of its current efforts to create more jobs, improve the performance of the non-oil sector of the nation’s economy and by so doing, enhancing the nation’s foreign exchange (FX) earnings.
The Special Assistant to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Ifedayo Sayo, confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari, gave the approval for the upgrade of the EKZ to FTZ.
According to him, the President approved the request of the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, seeking a free zone status for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone via a letter titled: “RE: Recommendations For Zone (EKZ) situated on 208.949 Hectares of Land Located At Ado-Ijan Road, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State”, signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari
Sayo further clarified that the letter stated: “I refer to you letter Ref. No. FMITI/CED/4748/Vol 1 dated 22 February 2023 on the above subject.
“Kindly note that Mr. President has granted free zone status approval for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone located along Ado-Ijan road, Ekiti State on a parcel of land measuring approximately 208.949HA with coordinates 8042765.02m’N’761’ 244.963m’ E, in accordance with Section 1 (1) of the NEPZA Act Cap. N107 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004”, Gambari added.
