NEZA Applauds Free Zone Regulators’ Call for 10-Year Moratorium on National Tax Policy By Raymond Enoch
The Nigeria Economic Zones Association (NEZA) has lauded the leadership of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) for advocating a ten-year moratorium on the implementation of the National Tax Policy (NTA) within Nigeria’s Free Zones.
In a statement released on Monday, NEZA described the move as a “bold and forward-thinking” initiative, aligning with concerns the association had raised earlier this year regarding the abrupt imposition of the NTA. According to NEZA, immediate implementation of the policy without a clear transitional framework could deter investment and undermine the growth of Free Zone enterprises.
“NEZA views the proposed ten-year moratorium as a strategic buffer that allows for policy harmonisation, investor engagement, regulatory clarity, and the development of a globally competitive incentives framework tailored for zone-based enterprises,” said I.O. Elegbede, Executive Secretary of NEZA.
The association urged NEPZA and OGFZA to continue collaborative advocacy to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s Free Zones, emphasizing the importance of policies that support both competitiveness and sustainability.
Industry analysts say the proposed moratorium could stabilize investor confidence, attract new entrants, and give regulators sufficient time to fine-tune the Free Zone framework, which has long been seen as a critical engine for economic growth and foreign investment in Nigeria.
As Nigeria positions itself to compete globally for investments, NEZA’s endorsement of the moratorium highlights the need for thoughtful, phased policy implementation that balances government revenue goals with investor certainty.
