The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has asked the Federal Government to grant operators within the country’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) a 10-year exemption from newly introduced tax laws, warning that uncertainty around the reforms is slowing foreign investment inflows.
NEPZA Managing Director, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi—represented by Director of Corporate Services, Haleema Kamba—made the appeal during a virtual dialogue hosted by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
He said operators across the 63 Free Trade Zones and more than 700 enterprises have repeatedly raised concerns over the impact of the evolving tax regime on planning, competitiveness and investor confidence. A defined 10-year “sunset period,” he said, would give firms stability, predictability and room to adjust while maintaining Nigeria’s attractiveness relative to global peers.
Ogunyemi noted that tax incentives remain the backbone of the SEZ model, stressing that disruptions to the incentive structure could undermine the country’s industrialisation and export agenda. He appealed directly to the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to consider the request “for the benefit of the scheme.”
He added that clear and consistent tax policies are essential as investors prepare their 2026 business plans, warning that uncertainty continues to weigh on efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said ongoing fiscal and regulatory reforms—including updates to the national revenue framework, SEZ incentives and Financial Reporting Council compliance—are aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s business environment and boosting economic growth.
