The Federal Government has approved the Declaration of the Ajaokuta Economic City as a Free Trade Zone, marking a significant milestone in the industrial and economic development of Kogi State.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Kogi State Governor, Ismaila Isah, disclosed this in Lokoja.
He said Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo will lead a delegation of Kogi State Government officials to the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) on Thursday to formally receive the Declaration Certificate.
The presentation is expected to be performed by the Managing Director of NEPZA, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, alongside other senior officials of the organization.
Technical Adviser to the Governor on Multilateral and Donor Funded Projects, Dr. Abdullahi Ozomata said the issuance of the Declaration Certificate by the federal government will officially signal the commencement of activities at the Ajaokuta Economic City, which will host the Kogi–Hunan Free Trade Zone.
Ozomata noted that the development is expected to attract both local and foreign investments, stimulate industrial growth, and create employment opportunities for residents of the state and beyond.
It would be recalled that the Kogi State Government had earlier applied to the Federal Government for the designation and approval of the Ajaokuta Economic City as a Free Trade Zone, a request that has received formal approval since November 2025.
Following the approval, Governor Ododo formally unveiled the Ajaokuta Economic City at an investment forum attended by representatives of local and foreign investors in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an investment-friendly environment, highlighting the strategic location of Ajaokuta and its proximity to critical infrastructure such as the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, rivers Niger and Benue waterways and the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line.
