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OGFZA Attracts $21.6bn FDIs into Nigeria’s economy in 20 years, Secures $19.97bn investments commitment

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MD/CEO, OGFZA, Sen. Tijjani Kaura, flanked by management staff
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The Oil and Gas Free Trade Zones Authority (OGFZA), said it attracted the sum of $21.6bn foreign direct investment into the Nigeria’s economy between 2001 and 2021

The Authority, also said it secured the sum of $19.97bn fresh investment commitment for Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones for the 2021 to 2025 fiscal periods.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OGFZA, Sen. Tijjani Kaura gave the figures during a chat with journalists in Abuja.

Sen. Kaura, said that the Oil and Gas Free Zones are evolving well and contributing significantly to the nation’s economy

He said, between 2021 and 2025 OGFZA has attracted a total investment commitment of $15.97b from new and existing investors in five of the Oil and Gas Free Zones.

Giving a breakdown of the investment commitments, Kaura put the proposed investment in Brass Oil and Gas Free Zone at $3bn; Notore Oil and Gas Free Zone $5.35bn; Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone $6.4bn; Bestaf Maritime and Industrial OGFZ $485m and OGFZ-SBA Free Zone $738m

Accoding to him, “The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority have recorded real achievements in quantitative terms which have contributed significantly to the nation’s GDP in the last two decades especially in three key indices namely Foreign direct investments (FDI) of $21.6b (2001-2021); technical skills transferred to Nigerians-35,330 (2001-2021); Number of Nigerians who have secured various levels of direct employment 41,085 persons and 164,000 indirect employments within the same period.

“In the area of revenue generation to Government, OGFZA activities accounted for the following revenues to the Federal Government between 2018 to 2021 Customs Duty of N119bn for goods exported from the Free Zones to Customs territory; Withholding Tax of N10.4bn for transactions carried out between Free Zone Enterprises and non-Free Zone licensees; and Value Added Tax (VAT) of N9.5bn for transactions carried out between Free Zone Enterprises and non-Free Zone licensees.”

Sen. Kaura, noted that the Authority has contributed to the reduction of Federal Government’s personnel and overhead costs by offering to become a partially self-funding Agency since January 2021, thereby saving the Federal Government over N2.3bn annually.

He said currently, OGFZA regulates eight Free Zones with six of them being fully operational, while processes towards the taking off of two are at various stages of completion.

He explained further that the agency has been achieving the objectives of government as revealed in the outcome of the evaluation exercise carried out by a high-powered Technical Committee set up in 2021 by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment for the evaluation of the performance of Free Zone Licensees in Nigeria.

In that Report, he noted that OGFZA in the area of Employment scored 69% in achieving its expected employment generation targets while on skills transfer, it achieved 73% of the national goal for Free Zones.

He said in line with the determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bring a turnaround to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, OGFZA has established Oil and Gas Free Zones in the resource-rich areas of Akwa Ibom State, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States respectively.

“In these states, the Authority has attracted gas processing projects eg (i) the Giwa Gas Project being constructed in the Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone, Akwa Ibom State, (ii) the proposed methanol plant project at Brass Oil and Gas Free Zone, (ii) the Meliora Methanol FZE Project at Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone etc.

“The Authority is also working with E & P Companies (Exploration and Production) including Waltersmith Petroman Oil Ltd for the development of an Industrial and Innovation Park/Oil and Gas Free Zone in Imo State and similar projects, which will operate as clusters for downstream gas-to-industry manufacturing and related activities,” he added.

In the area of midstream activities, Kaura said the Authority has commenced discussions with key industry stakeholders like BrentexCPP Limited, a consortium of Brentex Petroleum Services Ltd/China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co Ltd (CPP), one of the contractors executing the project to support and facilitate the completion of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas pipeline project through its trade facilitation incentives.

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Business & Economy

Tinubu Tables ₦58.18trn 2026 Budget, Projects Sustained Economic Stability

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Tinubu on Friday presented a ₦58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly of Nigeria, declaring that Nigeria’s economy is showing measurable signs of stabilisation following years of structural pressure.

Tagged “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” the 2026 fiscal plan is aimed at locking in recent macroeconomic gains while translating economic recovery into improved living standards for citizens.

According to the President, Nigeria’s economy expanded by 3.98 per cent in Q3 2025, while inflation moderated significantly, falling to 14.45 per cent in November 2025 from 24.23 per cent in March 2025.

“With stabilising food and energy prices, tighter monetary conditions, and improving supply responses, we expect the disinflationary trend to persist into 2026, barring major supply shocks,” Tinubu said during the presentation on December 19, 2025.

The President highlighted additional positive indicators, including improved crude oil production, rising non-oil revenues, renewed investor confidence, and external reserves climbing to a seven-year high of approximately $47 billion.

Under the proposal, the Federal Government projects ₦34.33 trillion in revenue against planned expenditure of ₦58.18 trillion, resulting in a budget deficit of ₦23.85 trillion, equivalent to 4.28 per cent of GDP. Tinubu emphasised that the fiscal framework is built on realism, prudence, and growth-driven assumptions.

He further assured lawmakers of tighter discipline in budget implementation, stressing that fiscal spending in 2026 would be more outcome-focused.

“Every naira spent or borrowed must deliver measurable public value,” the President said.

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CBN Governor Reassures U.S. Investors on Nigeria’s Economic Reforms, Stability

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CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso
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The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has reassured United States investors of Nigeria’s commitment to macroeconomic stability and market-driven reforms, amid global economic uncertainty.

Cardoso gave the assurance during high-level engagements with U.S. business leaders and institutional investors in Washington, D.C., including the U.S.–Nigeria Executive Business Roundtable.

Speaking at the forum, the CBN governor said Nigeria remains focused on rules-based economic management, transparent markets, and predictable policy frameworks to restore investor confidence and drive sustainable economic growth.

He highlighted recent reforms in the foreign exchange market, the adoption of orthodox monetary policy measures, ongoing banking sector reforms, and the modernisation of the payments system. According to him, the reforms are aimed at stabilising the economy and supporting private-sector-led development.

The roundtable, convened by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Africa Business Center, focused on macroeconomic stabilisation, regulatory clarity, and opportunities to scale bankable projects across key sectors of the Nigerian economy. Discussions also emphasised efforts to deepen commercial and investment ties between Nigeria and the United States.

Commenting on the outcome of the engagement, President of the U.S.-Africa Business Center, Ms. Kendra Gaither, said investors are increasingly prioritising policy credibility and consistency.

She noted that clarity of rules, credible reforms, and disciplined economic management are critical factors driving investor interest, adding that Nigeria’s evolving message of discipline and opportunity is important in a global economy seeking stability and predictability.

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Tinubu Welcomes Nigeria’s Removal from FATF Grey List, Pledges Continued Financial Reforms

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President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the removal of Nigeria from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, describing it as a major milestone in the nation’s economic reform and global credibility drive.

The FATF, the world’s foremost body for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, announced Nigeria’s delisting on Friday at its plenary session in Paris, France.

The decision formally removes Nigeria from the list of countries under increased monitoring, following the nation’s successful completion of its FATF Action Plan after over two years of sustained reforms and inter-agency coordination.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the development reflects Nigeria’s progress in strengthening its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.

“Rather than treat our placement on the grey list in 2023 as a setback, we saw it as a call to action,” the President said. “This delisting is a strategic victory for our economy and a renewed vote of confidence in Nigeria’s financial governance.”

The President credited the achievement to far-reaching legal, institutional, and operational reforms implemented under his administration through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in collaboration with the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and other key ministries.

Tinubu commended the Director/CEO of the NFIU, Ms. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, and her team for their diligence and professionalism, as well as the contributions of several ministries, agencies, and private sector representatives who participated in the National Task Force on AML/CFT.

He also acknowledged the support of international partners including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Nations, and the European Commission, for their technical assistance throughout Nigeria’s reform process.

President Tinubu assured that his administration will sustain and deepen the reforms that led to the country’s delisting.

“This is not just a technical accomplishment,” he said. “It marks the beginning of a new chapter in our financial reform agenda as we continue building a system Nigerians and the world can trust.”

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