The federal government has appointed a former member of the House of Representative from Kano state, Alhaji Adamu Abdu Fanda, as chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) with effect from September 26, 2020.
The appointment was contained in a memo with file number FMIT/LEG/1426/17 dated October 6, 2020 signed by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarso.
According to a press statement issued by NEPZA’s head of corporate communications, Martins Odeh, Fanda’s appointment was sequel to the ministry’s request through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to President Muhammadu Buhari on July 23, 2020, for the replacement of Mr. Segun Oni who formerly held the position.
In his reaction, NEPZA’s managing director, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, thanked the president for the prompt manner in which Fanda was appointed, saying that the NEPZA team was “now complete.”
Adesugba said the appointment of the new chairman was indicative of President Buhari’s commitment to ensuring that NEPZA got a fresh breath of life.
According to him, Fanda has the requisite exposure, experience and credentials to help in the revitalisation process of the agency.
“I am grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Alhaji Adamu Abdu Fanda as NEPZA board chairman. This shows the president’s commitment toward ensuring that the Authority is not hindered in any way while performing its task of growing the economy through free trade zone development.
“We are elated with this development as Fanda’s coming has made our team complete. The management and staff of the Authority would not hesitate to team up with our new chairman to fast track the impact of free trade zone scheme on the country economy,” he said.
Adesugba also expressed delight over the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otumba Adeniyi Adebayo’s many interventions made to stabilise the Authority, adding that the appointment of a new board chairman for the agency was geared toward giving it “a full operation status.”
