A development expert, Micheal Ale, has lamented Nigeria’s abysmal performance in attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He made the lamentation in Lagos at a forum organised by Development Nigeria.
Ale identified lack of finance and failure of government to domesticate the SGDs as factors inhibiting Nigeria from realizing the goals.
He said Nigeria’s late entry into the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) had adversely affected the socio-economic development pace in the country, adding that there is an urgent need for governments at all levels to domesticate the principles of the 17 SDGs.
Dangote Petrochemical Free Trade Zone To Fast-Track Nigeria’s Industrialisation – Adesugba
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority(NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, has described the Dangote Petrochemical Free Trade Zone Enterprise as a ‘one-world project’, capable of fast- tracking the Nigeria’s industrialisation process.
Mr. Martins Odeh, Head, Corporate Communications of NEPZA, in a statement at the weekend, said Adesugba made the declaration during his tour of the project site of the Dangote Petrochemical Free Trade.
The project, according to the statement, covers 2, 700 hectares of land, and comprises petroleum refinery, Dangote Fertiliser and other sundry manufacturing outfits.
The refinery section of the project is considered the largest single trail petroleum refinery in the world, with the capacity to produce 650,000 barrels per day, making a total of 32 million tons per annum.
Adesugba said during the tour that some of the engineering and marine technologies used in the project could later be listed in the world class Guinness Book of Records.
He added that the project had come to meet both the petroleum and fertiliser needs of the country.
According to him, “It is indeed a privilege for this project to be sited in Nigeria; it shows that Alhaji Aliko Dangote had long caught the vision of the country to become self- sustaining in the production of petrochemical products.
“We are fascinated by the energy both the expatriates and local workforce have put into this work so far.
“The project has opened a vista for technology transfer, massive job creation, training of local engineers as well as apprenticeship in world class marine and petrochemical engineering procedures.
“Nigeria is, however, eager to see the completion of this project, which shall open up the economy for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) drive.”
The Managing Director of NEPZA, said Dangote has used the free trade zone scheme to sustain the progress of work, as all machinery and equipment from abroad to aid the project were tax and duty-free.
“There is no gainsaying that the project, when completed, will have multiplier positive effects on our economy, that of Africa and the world as a whole.
“This is indeed a one-world project.
“As an agency, we are committed to supporting and protecting all enterprises in the zones from untoward exploitation,’’ he said.
Adesugba noted that the free trade zone concept had guaranteed lofty incentives that include non- payment of taxes, customs duties and such other levies, that were hitherto alien to the operation of the scheme.
