The appointment of Bamanga Usman Jada as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) in October 2023, has heralded a new era of innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth in the agency.
OGFZA is the national regulatory agency superintending over the operation of the oil and gas free trade zones in the country. It 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.
On assumption of office two years ago, Jada rolled out a 7-point agenda designed to foster economic growth and development as well as job creation, focusing on Efficiency and Trust, Infrastructure Excellence, Regulatory Modernization, Local Content Empowerment, Sustainability and Resilience, Investor-focus and Welfare. This agenda aims to propel OGFZA and Nigeria at large into a new era of prosperity and opportunities. So far, Jada has exhibited exemplary foresight that is capable of rapidly bringing into reality the revitalization of the nation’s economy. Under Jada’s leadership, the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority has witnessed notable achievements such as the establishment of new oil and gas Free Zones and attraction of investments. One of the new Free Zones is the Secured Bunkering Anchorage (SBA), Lagos. Established in 2023, SBA is the OGFZA initiative involving the declaration of a specific offshore location as an Oil and Gas Free Zone Safe Bunkering Anchorage (SBA) where ships of various sizes that transport crude, refined petroleum products, drilling and ancillary equipment/tools from various offshore project locations within the Gulf of Guinea and sub-Sahara Africa sub-region, can berth to replenish their fuel stock and carry out other STS transfer activities under Free Zone regulatory framework.
Another new free zone established by OGFZA under Jada’s leadership is the Orasi Special Energy Zone in Oguta Local Govt Area of Imo State. Declared open by President Tinubu in January 2024, it is the largest Oil and Gas Free Zone sitting on a parcel of land measuring over 140,000 hectares with a huge gas which cuts across Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta areas of Imo state. The Zone will operate as international gas centre for downstream investment in gas-based manufacturing and power sub-sectors of the Nigerian economy. It brings to eight the number of free zones under OGFZA regulation.
Under Jada’s leadership, OGFZA has attracted investment value of over $30bn and capable of securing 3 million jobs into the country through the Special Economic Zones. The Brass Oil and Gas Free Zone in Bayelsa, has secured a $3.6bn investment commitment through the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company. The proposed project, will include building a dedicated gas processing facility with a capacity to produce 340 million scuffs per day, 36km of 28 inches pipeline, a methanol plant, an SBA export jetty, a construction jetty, and a residential area. Between the commencement and completion of the project, over 20,000 jobs will be generated.
OGFZA’s newest Zone ORASHI Special Energy Free Zone in Imo State, houses the Egbema Power plant with the capacity to generate 112.8mw of electricity. This power hub is expected to generate $1,97billion annually in revenue for the Nigerian Government. Orashi Special Energy Free Zone has potential of attracting investment worth $8bn Foreign Direct Investment.
Recently, NESGAS Producing Nigeria Ltd, a gas producing company, launched a 50,000mt LPG storage facility worth $200m at the Onne/Ikpokiri Oil and Gas Free Zone in Rivers State. The LPG depot project has the capacity to generate over a million jobs. APM Terminals, Nigeria’s largest container terminal, has completed a state-of-the art project in Onne worth over $100m, which has the capacity of creating over 300,000 direct jobs. The Alternative Petroleum and Power Limited (APPL) is a green company which is bringing green/alternative fuel to mitigate carbon emission with an investment value of over €8bn.
APPL is also expected to export 520,000 MT/Y of Blue and Green Methanol; and 1,120,000 MT/Y of Green Ammonia in a span of four years. This investment will generate about 300,000 jobs directly and indirectly. Aligning with global trends towards sustainable energy solutions, this programme taps into Nigeria’s enormous natural gas reserves.
The Oil and Gas Free Zones (OGFZs) have attracted all major International Oil Companies (IOCs) which use the Free Zones as hubs for their business transactions covering the entire Gulf of Guinea up to Angola and South Africa.
The coming of these investments has also led to the transfer of skills and technology to the nation through manpower training and value-added technical processes, positioning Nigeria as the preferred investment destination in Africa.
A native of Adamawa State, Jada had his university education at the prestigious Federal University of Technology Yola, where he obtained a Diploma in Business Administration (2004) and a Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc) in Economics (2008). His exceptional academic performance in the university earned him recognition and numerous accolades.
He proceeded to the University of Central Lancanshire, Preston United Kingdom, where he acquired a Master’s Degree (M.Sc) in Oil and Gas Operations Management (2013) as well as an MBA in Marketing, solidifying his expertise in the intricate economic dynamics of the energy sector.
Jada began his professional career with Ecobank PLC in 2009 where he developed acute corporate financial management skills. These attributes were of great benefit to the Energy Commission of Nigeria, where he served in the Finance, Projects and Procurement Departments, respectively, from 2010 to 2023. He took on another role as the Personal Assistant to the Director General/CEO of the Commission. He has also served as Personal Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO); roles that further equipped him with hands on administrative know-how and leadership experience.
Jada is an affiliate of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, United Kingdom and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Diplomacy and Management, Nigeria.
The selection of Bamanga Jada by the Top10 magazine as one of the regulatory agency leaders in Nigeria is in recognition of his outstanding achievements as the Director General of OGFZA in the efficient delivery on its statutory mandate of regulatory initiatives and oversight, revenue generation and general contribution to the national economy.
