Akwa Ibom state government has sought for the support of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) to fast track development in the state.
The Governor of the state, Mr. Umo Eno made the appeal when the Special Adviser to President, Bola Tinubu on Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu led a delegation of his team and the management of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, alongside the management of SPFL Gas and Petroleum Sub-Zone, on a courtesy visit to the Governor in Uyo, the state capital.
Governor Eno commended President Tinubu for providing incentives for the realization of the Oil and Gas Free Zone in the state.
He acknowledged that License for the operation of the Oil and Gas Free Zone was awarded by the APC led- government and commended the delegation for keying into the vision of the federal government of enhancing development in the sector.
Governor Eno disclosed that his government has launched a 5–pillar agenda known as “the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda” used as a blueprint to drive development into rural areas to ensure access to basic amenities such as good roads, electricity, pipe borne water and health care facilities.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. John Uwajumogu while speaking commended Governor Eno for the efforts made on investments so far in the state.
He stated that the visit to the state has taken the team to SPFL Gas and Petroleum Sub-Zone in Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone, where they witnessed the huge investment and rapid development going on in the Zone.
Mr. Uwajumogu pledged readiness of the team to support the Oil and Gas venture, while stating that the infrastructural strides in Akwa Ibom is a feat that has prepared the state for the economic revolution about to take place and expressed readiness of the federal government to collaborate with the state.
Speaking at the meeting, OGFZA helmsman, Sen. Tijjani Kaura, disclosed that ongoing investments at Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone currently, is not less than 500 million USD and a speculation of 6 billion USD in the next six years and have generated about one thousand employment opportunities in the state.
Reiterating the Authority’s commitment to support the state government, Sen. Kaura made a case for strengthening of the joint committee earlier constituted, to resolve all land related issues for the speedy take-off of the free zone project.
