The Nigeria Economic Zones Association (NEZA) has thrown its full support behind the Managing Directors of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) over their call for a ten-year moratorium on the implementation of the National Tax Policy (NTA) in Nigeria’s Free Zones.
In a statement, NEZA described the position as timely, strategic, and consistent with its long-standing concerns, warning that a rushed application of the NTA without a clear transition framework could trigger capital flight and deter fresh investments into the Free Zone scheme.
The Association noted that its stance was previously articulated in a press release issued on September 1, 2025, where it cautioned against abrupt policy shifts that could undermine investor confidence and the competitiveness of Nigeria’s Free Zones.
According to NEZA, the proposed ten-year moratorium would serve as a critical buffer, allowing for proper policy harmonisation, sustained investor engagement, regulatory clarity, and the development of a globally competitive incentives framework tailored to zone-based enterprises.
NEZA further urged NEPZA and OGFZA to sustain their joint advocacy efforts to protect the integrity of the Free Zone scheme, stressing its readiness to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that no fiscal policy weakens the sustainability and global appeal of Nigeria’s economic zones.
