The Federal government has established a Special Economic Zones Security (SEZSEC) outfit as a deliberate measure to protect the 46 free trade zones against economic sabotage.
The SEZSEC outfit is also expected to safe guide the investments and complement the services already provided by the Directorate of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otumba Adeniyi Adebayo, disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja while decorating 37 officers drawn from various academic disciplines.
Adebayo said: “The reason we decided to establish the unit is to provide adequate security for lives, properties and investments in the free trade zones. This bold step will help to build the confidence of investors, owners of enterprises in the zones and prospective investors alike”
He said the government was hopeful that the new development would attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) as it is natural for investments to locate where they can be secured.
He warned the officers that “government will not hesitate in rewarding hard work, just as it will not in punishing any of you who runs foul of the law”.
NEPZA Managing Director, Prof Adesoji Adesugba, said the batch of officers were trained between May 23 and June 23 at the State Security Service Academy in Lagos to boost the security architecture of the FTZ across the country.
“It took Nigeria 29 years to develop two public FTZs. But it took this administration only seven years to establish six special economic zones in Lagos, Ilorin, Katsina, Benue, Gombe and Sokoto. As we begin the real expansion of the scheme in Nigeria, we are compelled to develop these highly-informed and trained officers to safeguard the multi-billion-dollar business corridors,” he said.
