By Admin
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has announced that the Ajaokuta Economic City, proposed to host the Kogi-Hunan Free Trade Zone, is set to commence operations in 2026, with groundbreaking scheduled for the second quarter of the year.
The governor disclosed this in Abuja while leading a delegation of Kogi State officials to receive the Declaration Certificate formally designating the Ajaokuta Economic City as a Free Trade Zone. The certificate was presented by the Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Olufemi Ogunyemi, following Federal Government approval of the project.
The designation comes on the heels of earlier authorisation granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in November 2025 for the establishment of the 4,000-hectare economic city in Kogi State, a development seen as a major boost to Nigeria’s industrial expansion drive.
Governor Ododo described the Free Trade Zone status as a critical milestone that provides a solid legal and regulatory framework to attract both local and foreign investors. He said the project is expected to stimulate industrial growth, promote exports and generate thousands of jobs for residents of the state and beyond.
According to him, the economic city will serve as a catalyst for unlocking Kogi State’s vast mineral endowments and strategic geographic advantage. He noted that the state borders key commercial centres, including the Federal Capital Territory, and is endowed with over 30 solid minerals in commercial quantities such as coal, iron ore, lithium, gold and beryllium.
The governor further assured that the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to revive the Ajaokuta steel facility, revealing that prospective investors are already assessing the plant. He expressed optimism that renewed activity in Ajaokuta, combined with the Free Trade Zone initiative, would reposition the area as a leading industrial hub in West Africa.
Ododo commended NEPZA for its guidance and due diligence throughout the approval process, noting that technical committees were set up to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements before the issuance of the licence.
In his remarks, NEPZA Managing Director Olufemi Ogunyemi described the certification as the beginning of a long-term development journey. He pledged the authority’s continued support in ensuring that the Ajaokuta Economic City evolves into one of the country’s most successful and competitive free trade zones.
With the addition of Ajaokuta Economic City, the number of Free Trade Zones licensed and regulated by NEPZA has risen to about 46, further strengthening Nigeria’s special economic zones framework and reinforcing efforts to attract investment, boost exports and accelerate industrialisation ahead of its 2026 take-off.
