Idu Industrial Park to create 40,000 direct jobs, reduce imports – Zeberced MD

The Managing Director of Zeberced Group, a leading conglomerate in Nigeria, Adil Aydin Kurt, has revealed that if completed, the Idu Industrial Park in Abuja will create 40,000 direct jobs and reduce import.

Kurt made the disclosure in Abuja over the weekend when he took the management of Media Trust Group on a tour to the industrial park led by the acting Group Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Shekarau.

He said about 108 workshops for artisans like plumbers, welders, mechanics, among others, have been contracted to provide support services at the park.

“Initially when we estimated the cost was $120 million (approximately N130 billion) but now with inflation and high cost of items, what we will spend will be more. Already we have finished many factories. When we complete this project, there will be 40,000 direct employees. We will have 200 factories, railways, power plants, and logistic warehouses, as well as small support services to cater to the big industries.

“95 per cent of the goods we import from abroad, but we have the resources and manpower here and that is the mentality we want to break. We have a lot of potential and that’s why we are here in Nigeria. This industrial park in Abuja is going to be a sample project, and we plan to have it in all 36 states. It’s the first organised industrial park project of its kind, and it will also attract foreign investors to come to Nigeria because we know there is manpower and market demand here,” he said.

Kurt however called on the government to create the access roads that will ensure movement of goods and services in and out of the park.

“This park will have no fewer than 20,000 trucks going in and out because of the kind of production that will be going on but the access roads which contract has been awarded in the last 10 years till date have not been done and it’s quite unfortunate.

“Lagos is the commercial centre for Nigeria but you can’t put everything there that’s why this park is here in Abuja to ensure that commercial activities boom. We have about 400 of such parks in Turkey my country.

“I also appeal that companies importing pipes, wires and other things we manufacture should patronize ours because it will reduce demand for forex which is why we also want to partner with the Nigeria Local Content Board in that regard as we also have plans to start production of refrigerator,” he added.

On power challenges, he stated that, “As investors in an industrial park, there will be 200 factories. As a group of companies, we aim to establish between 10 and 15 factories ourselves. But one issue is power, and we have made alternatives for that. We have 24hrs power supply for now and we have direct supply from Kainji Dam from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), but in case of grid collapse, we have made provisions for our alternative.

On Corporate Social Responsibility, he noted that, “We have signed community development agreements. During that time, we built schools, police stations, and provided scholarships to young people in Kubwa and the surrounding areas. We are also opening more boreholes that the communities can use. We have also built two places for emirs, and we will continue to do more.”

In his brief remarks, the MTG acting GCEO, Ahmed Shekarau, lauded the group for their ingenuity in the construction sector, adding that the industrial park offers an opportunity for massive employment for Nigeria’s teaming youthful population.