Kano Free Trade Zone revenue hits N18bn in 2025, driven by NEPZA and Customs, highlighting Nigeria’s growing non-oil economic potential

The Kano free Trade Zone reported a significant surge in economic activity in 2025, generating over N18 billion in combined revenue, officials confirmed on Wednesday in Kano.

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Olufemi Ogunyemi, Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), disclosed at the 2025 Kano Free Trade Zone Investors and Stakeholders Forum that NEPZA internally generated more than N1.8 billion, while Customs collected N17 billion between January and October.

The forum, which included a two-day workshop themed “Strengthening Partnerships for Efficient Service Delivery in the Free Trade Zone,” brought together investors, regulatory agencies, and government representatives to discuss operational improvements, regulatory compliance, and collaborative strategies.

Ogunyemi said the revenue growth underscores the zone’s potential as a key driver of non-oil industrialisation and export-led economic expansion.

“The volume of investment within the zone continues to rise, and these achievements demonstrate its role in transforming Nigeria’s economic landscape,” he added.

Kassim Ibrahim, Kano State coordinator for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), emphasised the importance of strict compliance with safety, quality, and efficacy standards in food and drug production. He announced plans for unannounced inspections to strengthen post-marketing surveillance.

Richard Bassi, head of the Kano Free Trade Zone, attributed the zone’s success to strong collaboration among NEPZA, NAFDAC, Customs, and other regulatory agencies. “Continued teamwork is essential for sustaining investor confidence and consolidating recent gains,” he said.

The forum highlighted the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy away from crude oil.

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The zone’s ‘One Stop Shop’ system, which centralises approvals from immigration, NAFDAC, Customs, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, has provided investors with efficiency, transparency, and confidence, contributing to the zone’s remarkable revenue growth.