Ajaokuta Economic City to Take Off in 2026, Says Ododo

Ajaokuta Economic City to Take Off in 2026, Says Ododo

Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has announced that the proposed Ajaokuta Economic City, which will host the Kogi-Hunan Free Trade Zone, is set to begin operations this year, with groundbreaking scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.

Ododo made the disclosure in Abuja when he led a delegation of state officials to receive the Declaration Certificate officially designating the Ajaokuta Economic City as a Free Trade Zone.

The certificate was presented at the headquarters of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) by its Managing Director, Olufemi Ogunyemi, following approval by the Federal Government.

The approval came on the heels of earlier authorisation granted in November 2025 by Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the 4,000-hectare Ajaokuta Economic City in Kogi State.

Describing the development as a milestone, Ododo said the Free Trade Zone status provides a strong legal and investment framework capable of attracting both local and foreign investors, stimulating industrial growth and creating thousands of jobs for residents of the state.

“Today is historic for our people. Sometime last year, I was here to interface with the managing director and his team to present reasons why Kogi State should be considered for this very special project, the Ajaokuta Economic City and Free Trade Zone.

“He guided us and set up various committees to ensure due diligence and compliance with all processes. When you have a leader who sincerely places the interest of the people first, the result is what we are seeing today,” the governor said.

He described the project as a catalyst for economic transformation, noting that the state’s central location and vast mineral deposits place it at a strategic advantage.

“If you look at Kogi State, it is specially created by God. It is the only state in Nigeria that borders about 10 commercial centres, including the Federal Capital Territory. We are richly blessed with solid minerals such as coal, iron ore, lithium, gold and beryllium, but these have never worked for us,” Ododo stated.

According to him, the free trade zone would unlock the state’s economic potential and reposition Ajaokuta as a key industrial hub in West Africa, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s broader industrialisation drive.

The governor also assured that efforts were underway by the Federal Government to revive the Ajaokuta steel facility, stressing that investor interest was already growing.

“I want to advise that we should be up to date. Some people are not aware of what Mr President is currently doing in Ajaokuta. As we speak, there are investors already assessing the plant. Before the end of this year, Ajaokuta will be up and running. With the coming of this free trade zone, the project will advertise itself and add to the economic sustainability of our nation,” he said.

In his remarks, Ogunyemi described the issuance of the licence as the beginning of a long-term partnership between NEPZA and the Kogi State Government.

“The road does not end here. This is the beginning of a long journey. This is a multi-sectoral economic city that can become one of the most successful free trade zones in Nigeria,” he said.

He noted that the free trade zone model is globally recognised as a tool for attracting investment, boosting exports and generating employment.

With the addition of Ajaokuta Economic City, the number of Free Trade Zones licensed and regulated by NEPZA has risen to about 46, further expanding Nigeria’s special economic zones framework ahead of the project’s planned 2026 take-off.

(L-R) Managing Director, Olufemi Ogunyemi, NEPZA and Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo