Kogi State has taken a giant leap towards industrial transformation as Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo officially launched the Ajaokuta Economic City, a new Free Trade Zone (FTZ) projected to attract $500 million in annual foreign direct investment (FDI) and generate 50,000 jobs. The unveiling, held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, brought together Chinese and international investors eager to explore opportunities in the state.
Governor Ododo hailed the project as a defining moment in Kogi’s industrial journey, thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his prompt approval and unwavering support.
He reassured investors of a robust security framework for the FTZ and highlighted the role of local universities and technical institutions in supplying the skilled workforce needed to drive the zone’s growth.
“Today, we plant the seed of generational prosperity. Kogi State is the beating heart of Nigeria. We don’t just talk. We act,” Ododo declared.
Aliyu Inda Salami, Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor and CEO of the Kogi State Investment Promotion and Public Private Partnership Agency (KOSIPPPPA), said the 4,000-hectare site has been strategically chosen, boasting power infrastructure, rail links, inland waterways, and multi-modal transport access. He confirmed that the first phase of the project is ready to kick off, backed by full presidential approval.
The Chinese delegation, led by Mr. Li Zhensheng, hailed the FTZ as a flagship success of the Kogi–Hunan Sister City partnership, pledging support for manufacturing, logistics, and technology transfer initiatives. Similarly, Mr.
Hassan of Turkey’s Otreopoli Group confirmed plans to invest in oil, gas, and logistics, emphasizing investment models that impose “zero burden on government.”
Dr. Sanni Abdullahi Ozomata, Technical Adviser to the Governor, described the FTZ as a one-stop industrial ecosystem, offering incentives such as:
100% capital repatriation
Tax exemptions
Sector-specific investment windows
Educational exchange programmes with Hunan Province
He projected that the zone would create 50,000 jobs while generating $500 million in FDI annually, positioning Kogi as a key industrial hub in Nigeria.
The event also saw goodwill messages from the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), North Central Development Commission (NCDC), and the Ministry of Finance, all praising the project as a cornerstone of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
A landmark moment came with the signing of the administrative framework for the FTZ, inked by Hon. Aliyu Salami (Kogi State), Mr. Li Zhensheng (Zhuzhou Municipality), and Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu (IRS Group), cementing the public-private partnership that will drive the project forward.
The launch drew investors from Nigeria, China, Turkey, and beyond, signalling the start of a transformative industrial era in Kogi State and a bold step towards economic prosperity.
