The Nigeria Economic Zones Association (NEZA) has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) for calling for a ten-year moratorium on the implementation of the National Tax Policy (NTA) within Nigeria’s Free Zones.
In a statement issued on Monday, NEZA described the position of the two Free Zone regulators as bold, timely and forward-thinking, noting that it aligns with concerns earlier raised by the association on the potential impact of the policy on investments in the zones.
NEZA recalled that it had, in a press release dated September 1, 2025, warned against the abrupt application of the NTA without a clearly defined transitional framework, stressing that such a move could trigger the exit of existing investors and discourage prospective ones from participating in the Free Zone scheme.
According to the association, the proposed ten-year moratorium would serve as a strategic buffer, providing room for policy harmonisation, sustained engagement with investors, regulatory clarity and the development of a globally competitive incentives framework specifically designed for zone-based enterprises.
NEZA further urged NEPZA and OGFZA to sustain their collaborative advocacy efforts in order to safeguard the integrity of the Free Zone scheme, which it described as critical to Nigeria’s industrialisation and export-led growth agenda.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure that policy reforms do not undermine the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s Free Zones.
The statement was signed by the Executive Secretary of NEZA, Mr. I.O. Elegbede, and dated December 15, 2025.
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