By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Board of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), expressing confidence that the sector will drive double-digit growth in Nigeria’s economy by 2030.

The newly constituted board, chaired by Mrs. Lydia Kalat Musa, comprises seasoned professionals drawn from diverse fields. Other members are Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, Engr. Frank Onyebu, Engr. Dr. Jani Ibrahim, Mr. Etido Thomas Usoroh, Mr. Augustine Uchechukwu Kalu, Mr. Joseph Yilwa, Dr. George Nwangwu, and Mr. Adie Emmanuel.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the board’s performance would be judged by tangible outcomes rather than the number of meetings held.

“The true measure of success will be projects delivered, investments attracted and retained, jobs created, and value added to Nigeria’s exports,” she stated.

Dr. Oduwole charged the board to bring clarity, discipline and innovation to the management of oil and gas free zones by closing long-standing implementation gaps and ensuring that government incentives translate into measurable economic benefits for Nigerians.

She outlined OGFZA’s core mandate to include licensing and regulation, infrastructure provision, coordination of public and private sector stakeholders, establishment of customs and security frameworks within the zones, as well as the resolution of labour and commercial disputes.

While acknowledging challenges such as infrastructure deficits, security concerns, inter-agency coordination lapses and operational bottlenecks, the minister assured that the Federal Government was addressing the issues in a deliberate and systematic manner.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the board’s inauguration as a renewed signal of government’s commitment to industrial transformation at a critical stage of Nigeria’s economic journey.

He stressed that the constitution of the board was neither accidental nor symbolic, but a fulfilment of a statutory obligation shaped by prevailing economic realities and national development priorities.

Senator Enoh disclosed that Nigeria had recently approved a National Industrial Policy, marking a strategic shift towards productivity, value creation and export-led growth.

He noted that inaugurating the OGFZA board ahead of the formal unveiling of the policy underscored the urgency of translating policy frameworks into concrete performance.

Recalling the vision behind OGFZA’s establishment, he said the authority was designed to attract investment, stimulate production and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness within Africa and the global economy.

According to him, free trade and processing zones must function as engines of industrialisation, export expansion and value addition.

He therefore urged board members to see their assignment as a call to stewardship and service, with emphasis on measurable impact rather than routine governance procedures.

In her response, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Mrs. Lydia Kalat Musa, thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for the confidence reposed in the board.

She pledged that, in close collaboration with OGFZA management and key stakeholders, the board would reposition the authority as a partner of choice for both local and foreign investors, guided by the principles of excellence, accountability and national development.