The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) is the national regulatory agency superintending over the operation of the oil and gas free trade zones in the country.
OGFZA was established by Section 2 of the Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Act No. 8 of 1996 to regulate Nigeria’s Oil and Gas free trade zones. The Authority began operation in Onne, Rivers State in 2001.
The first oil and gas export free zone to be established was the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone in Rivers State. Subsequently other oil and gas free zone were established by the Federal Government in partnership with private sector operators.
Our Vision: To be the premier agency of government responsible for promoting, securing and sustaining investments in the nation’s oil and gas free zones.
Core Values
- Integrity
- Respect ( for self, Clients, Time and Colleagues)
- Passion
- Customer Centric
- Creativity
- Transparency and Accountability
- Professionalism.
Our Mission: To facilitate public-private partnership investments in the nation’s oil and gas free zones as vehicles for promoting accelerated growth and sustainable development.
Our Mandate
The Authority is charged with the responsibility to:
- License, regulate, supervise, manage, control and co-ordinate the activities of OGFZs in the country.
- Grant requisite permit and licence to all prospective investors wishing to do business within OGFZs in Nigeria.
- Offer incentives to free zone enterprises.
- Ensure that maximum free zone incentives and benefits are passed to the free zone registered companies.
- Promote the free zones to investors.
Functions of OGFZA
Pursuant to section 2 of the OGFZ Act 1996, the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority has responsibility to operate and manage the Oil and Gas Free Zones, and by section 5(1) of the Act, the Authority is charged with the following functions:
- The administration of the Authority and the management of the Export Free Zones
- The grant of all requisite permits and licences to conduct approved enterprises within the Export Free Zones
- The approval of development plans of the Authority and the Export Free Zones, the annual budgets in respect of infrastructure, administrative buildings, promotion of the Export Free Zones, the provision and maintenance of services and facilities
- The establishment of customs, police, immigration and similar posts in the Export Free Zones
- The supervision and coordination of the functions of the various public and private sector organisations operating within the export Free Zones and resolving any dispute which may arise among them
- The resolution of trade disputes between employers and employees in the Export Free Zones in consultation with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
Why invest in OGFZ?
- Round-the-clock operation (365 days, 7 days a week).
- Ability to hold duty Free stock in a strategic location central to West Africa sub-Saharan region, enabling streamlined procurement logistics with reduced inventory requirement.
- 75% duty rebate.
- Computerized Free Zones Inventory Management System.
- Tax Incentives
- Direct access to sea and same-day turnaround of supply vessels operation.
- Single-point responsibility and vessel operations, cargo handling, warehousing, personnel, agency etc.
- Production in handling operations, no double handling.
- Increased efficiency in exploration and production activities with better project co-ordination and management.
- Ability to share both facilities and services.
For more info, visit: www.ogfza.gov.ng