The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has said Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are emerging as critical drivers of the country’s Blue Economy, with investments in oil and gas free zones strengthening energy exports, maritime logistics, industrialisation and long-term economic growth.

The Authority said its regulated free zones have evolved beyond conventional investment destinations into strategic Energy Economic Zones that are enhancing national energy security, expanding export capacity and positioning Nigeria as a preferred investment destination in West Africa.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OGFZA, Bamanga Usman Jada, stated this while delivering the keynote address titled, “The Strategic Role of OGFZA in Supporting Nigeria’s Blue Economy and Energy Exports,” at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) held in Port Harcourt. The conference was themed, *”Special Economic Zones as Catalysts to Sustainable Blue Economy.”*

Jada, who was represented by the Technical Adviser to the Managing Director on Free Zones Development, Jackson Iniobong, described the Blue Economy as a framework for harnessing Nigeria’s oceans, rivers, ports and coastal resources to drive economic prosperity while safeguarding the environment for future generations.

He said OGFZA’s statutory mandate of regulating and promoting investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones aligns with the Federal Government’s Blue Economy agenda, noting that most of the Authority’s free zones are strategically located along the country’s maritime corridors.

“Over the years, OGFZA has contributed significantly to the development of Nigeria’s Blue Economy through the establishment, regulation and promotion of Special Economic Zones strategically located around our maritime corridors.”

According to him, the free zones have evolved into engines of industrialisation, international trade, marine logistics, offshore support services and export-oriented manufacturing, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s participation in the global maritime economy.

Jada identified the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone in Rivers State as OGFZA’s flagship zone, noting that it hosts one of Nigeria’s busiest seaports and serves as an operational base for numerous multinational companies involved in maritime and oil and gas operations.

He also highlighted the Bestaf Maritime Industrial Oil and Gas Free Zone in Lagos State, which hosts an indigenous lubricant blending facility with an annual production capacity of 240 million litres, with products exported through Nigeria’s waterways.

The OGFZA boss further cited the Dangote Industries Oil and Gas Free Zone in Lekki, home to the 700,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery, the largest refinery in Africa, as a major indigenous investment that has significantly strengthened Nigeria’s energy export profile.

“These developments have expanded the significance of OGFZA-regulated free zones into becoming Energy Economic Zones that are enhancing national energy security, industrialisation, and maritime logistics infrastructure and safety.”

Jada said the Authority also regulates the Secured Bunkering Anchorage, an offshore facility supporting safe maritime operations and energy exports, while its free zones have attracted substantial domestic and foreign investments, generated thousands of jobs and facilitated technology transfer.

He explained that OGFZA’s One-Stop-Shop model has improved collaboration with key maritime agencies by simplifying licensing processes, streamlining Customs procedures and enhancing the ease of doing business for investors.

The regulatory framework, Jada noted, has improved port efficiency, reduced operational bottlenecks and promoted indigenous capacity development in fabrication, engineering, marine support services, vessel maintenance and logistics, with facilities such as the West Atlantic Shipyard contributing significantly to local content development.

Looking ahead, he said the Authority would continue to promote environmentally responsible industrial operations, cleaner technologies and efficient resource utilisation to ensure that Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones become models of sustainability, innovation and resilience.

He reaffirmed OGFZA’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s vision of leveraging the country’s vast maritime assets to diversify the economy, attract quality investments, create employment opportunities and build a prosperous and sustainable future.

• Fiscal measures take effect

The Federal Government has reduced the import levy on both new and used vehicles as part of its 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures

The  move, the government said, is aimed at lowering the cost of vehicle importation, easing the burden on importers and improving access to vehicles for consumers.

The new fiscal measures, which took effect on July 1 2026, form part of a broader review of Nigeria’s import tariff structure and customs regime designed to stimulate economic activity and support trade.

Under the revised policy, the import levy on new vehicles has been reduced from 20% to 10%, while the levy on used vehicles has been cut from 15% to 5% per cent.

According to government, “Beginning 1st July 2026, the Nigeria Customs Service will implement the Green Tax Surcharge as part of the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures to support environmental sustainability. while also reducing the import levy on new vehicles from 20% to 10% and that of used vehicles from 15% to 5% to ease the cost of vehicle importation?”

Importers and dealers have since welcomed the development, describing it as a positive step forward.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has inaugurated a multi-agency task force to address the resurgence of traffic congestion along the Lagos port access roads, as part of renewed efforts to ensure seamless cargo evacuation and sustain improvements in port operations.

The initiative followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, last month, where security agencies, freight forwarders, truck operators and representatives of the Lagos State Government agreed on coordinated measures to eliminate bottlenecks affecting cargo movement.

Deliberations at the meeting identified illegal extortion points, overlapping responsibilities among security agencies and other operational inefficiencies as major causes of the renewed gridlock along the port corridor.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of the NPA, Ikechukwu Onyemakara, said the Authority remains committed to ensuring the unhindered movement of cargo to and from the nation’s seaports.

According to Onyemakara, the task force has been mandated to monitor truck movement along the port access roads on a regular basis, identify disruptions capable of causing traffic gridlock and immediately resolve such issues before they escalate.

He explained that members of the team would not establish checkpoints along the corridor but would instead maintain strategic presence at designated locations to ensure compliance while avoiding further obstruction to traffic.

To facilitate swift response to emerging challenges, Onyemakara said the task force has created a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which members can instantly report traffic violations and other incidents requiring immediate intervention.

On the renewal of the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system contract, which expired recently, the NPA spokesman said the Authority is reviewing the contractual terms to ensure a stronger and more effective framework before awarding a new agreement.

He, however, clarified that the ETO platform remains operational under the management of Truck Transit Parks (TTP) pending the conclusion of the procurement process.

He expressed optimism that the renewal process would be completed soon.

Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to maintaining free-flowing port access roads, Onyemakara noted that efficient logistics remain central to the NPA’s strategy to enhance Nigeria’s port competitiveness and sustain the country’s improving global reputation.

“We are more interested in the free flow of logistics into our ports than anyone else because it is in our own interest,” he said.

He added that the Authority was determined to consolidate the gains already recorded in port efficiency, citing recent international recognition, including positive assessments by the World Bank, as evidence of ongoing progress.

“We are determined to sustain and even surpass the improvements already recorded in our port system. You can be assured that we remain fully committed to achieving the best possible performance from our ports,” Onyemakara said.

The newly inaugurated task force comprises representatives of the NPA, the Nigeria Police Force, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).