The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority has assured investors operating in the Calabar Free Trade Zone of the agency’s commitment to addressing security challenges.

NEPZA’s managing director, Olufemi Ogunyemi, said this at an interactive session with investors, security agencies and other stakeholders in Calabar on Wednesday.

Mr Ogunyemi, during a working visit to the zone, said it was also advocating policies that would support business growth in the area.

Mr Ogunyemi said the meeting was organised to provide investors with an opportunity to present their concerns to NEPZA ‘s management and discuss ways of improving the operating environment within the zone.

According to him, the Calabar Free Trade Zone occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s industrial and economic development agenda and remains one of the country’s most important free trade zones.

One of the investors, Denis Oga of Skyrun International, raised concerns over the impact of recent tax reforms on businesses operating within the zone.

Mr Oga particularly restated the repeal of provisions investors had relied upon when establishing their operations. He also sought clarification on reports that investors in the Oil and Gas Free Zones were considered for tax exemptions.

Mr Oga asked what steps NEPZA was taking to secure similar concessions for investors in its zones.

Mr Ogunyemi said NEPZA had consistently engaged relevant government authorities and advocated on behalf of investors regarding the tax policy changes. He said that the agency had written to the Nigeria Revenue Service, requesting a tax moratorium to enable investors to adjust to the new tax regime.

“We fought very hard when the tax bill was being considered. We engaged the House of Representatives, the Senate, ministers and other stakeholders. After the bill became law, I wrote to the NRS  chairman requesting a moratorium.

“This was to allow investors time to adjust their business models because this was not what many of them were promised. While we are still awaiting a response, I want investors to know that NEPZA remains committed to defending their interests within the limits of our mandate,” he said.

Security concerns also featured prominently during the session, with investors complaining about frequent incidents of theft, vandalism and breaches within the zone.

The NEPZA boss acknowledged the concerns and revealed that security was one of the major issues he had already discussed with the Cross River government.

He said he had personally raised the matter with Governor Bassey Otu and stressed the need for collaboration between NEPZA, security agencies, host communities and the state government.

“Security is a major issue and one that I take very seriously as the chief security officer of the zone. I have already discussed it with the governor and requested his support because securing the Calabar Free Trade Zone requires collective effort. We will develop a comprehensive security plan while also addressing infrastructure gaps such as damaged perimeter fencing,” he said.

Binta Saeed, the head of the CFTZ, attributed many of the security breaches to the activities of personnel engaged by a private security contractor and called for a review of the arrangement.

She also disclosed that a committee comprising representatives of the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security stakeholders had been established to tackle the problem.

(NAN)