New Telegraph 
As part of what it says is its efforts to drive the ease of doing business for global digital, finance, knowledge, and services-oriented enterprises in Nigeria, the Federal Government has established a steering committee chaired by President Bola Tinubu to drive the promotion and establishment of a digital free zone in the country to accommodate the peculiar needs of innovative digital trade and service businesses.
According to a press release, the steering committee is chaired by President Tinubu, supported by the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, as Vice Chairman. Other members are, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment; Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; and Interior; the heads of relevant Government Agencies and Committees; and the Initiative for the Promotion of Digital Free Zones in Nigeria (DiFZIN) as the private-sector stakeholders’ representative and technical advisers.
DiFZIN is a non-profit advocacy and policy research organisation supported by a consortium of private sector developmentfocused and advisory institutions including the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), PwC Nigeria, Charter Cities Institute, Future Africa, and Itana.
The statement said that the Committee would work collaboratively with relevant agencies of government and private stakeholders to review and align Nigeria’s free zone policies, technology and processes with global standards, then develop and publish policy and operational frameworks to enable qualified global and local technology and service businesses to establish Pan-African or global operations from Nigeria.
Businesses that take advantage of the zone will benefit from competitive business incentives provided by modernised free zones regulations, including tax, immigration and banking incentives, simplified government compliance processes, clear and predictable business regulation and an enabling business environment.
As part of the Federal Government’s strategic growth objectives, it aims to boost foreign direct investment, create employment opportunities, and facilitate the capital flow into Nigeria’s economy, through an innovative and future-oriented approach to the free zones ecosystem.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Edun stated that “the pivotal role of free zones to catalysing and sustaining economic growth in an emerging market such as Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. Its implementation in this digital age must not only encompass manufacturing undertakings but also integrate the central role of technologyfocused businesses in attracting investments and making available to the global markets, our domestic talents under a liberal regulatory framework.
These and more are what the government aims to deliver through the digital free zones.” Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, MD/ CEO of NEPZA (Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority), emphasised the Authority’s committment to digital transformation.
He highlighted the e-NEPZA platform, which will streamline government services and comply with the Federal Government’s ease of doing business policy.
Dr Ogunyemi also noted the importance of data privacy, with data stored locally in local servers as well as the ability of small businesses to access global markets, addressing the need for digital infrastructure like fibre optics.
“We look forward to partnering with DiFZIN to advance our digital processes,” he stated. ’s support for digital free zones signals a move towards a digitally driven economy, unlocking new opportunities for small and medium-scale enterprises as well as large corporations in Nigeria.
“DiFZIN is committed to driving the agenda for reforms to the regulatory frameworks for taxation, banking, immigration, and ease of doing business, among others, within the free zones ecosystem,” said Mr Edu.
“Our goal is to create a conducive environment for global technology and services-based businesses to thrive, facilitating remote operations and banking from Nigeria for Africa, thereby positioning Nigeria as a hub for Africa, akin to what Delaware is for the US, and Dubai is for Asia,” he added.
