DSEZ: Delta Targets Post-Oil Economy as Koko, Kwale Free Zones Attract Major Investments
By Gilbert Olie
The Delta State Government has intensified efforts to diversify the state’s economy beyond oil through the development of the Delta Special Economic Zone (DSEZ), with the Koko and Kwale Free Trade Zones positioned to become major hubs for industrialisation, investment and job creation.
Chairman of the Delta Special Economic Zone Management Company (DSEZ-MC), Brig. Gen. Mike Ndubisi (Rtd.), disclosed this on Thursday, October 8, 2026, during a press briefing at the headquarters of the company.
Ndubisi said the DSEZ, covering 3,200 hectares of land comprising 2,200 hectares at Koko and 1,000 hectares at Kwale, was designed to accelerate the state’s “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative through strategic industrial and economic activities.
According to him, the concept of the DSEZ was initiated by the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who transformed the former Kwale Industrial Park project into a broader Special Economic Zone framework.
He said the Federal Government subsequently granted the DSEZ its licence in April 2023 through the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA).
The chairman said the DSEZ also has a strong voting membership of the World Free Zones Organization (WFZO), describing the development as an indication of the state government’s commitment to building a competitive investment destination.
He explained that investors operating within the zone would benefit from incentives including company income tax and duty exemptions, 100 per cent profit repatriation, one-stop investment facilitation and legal protections aimed at promoting ease of doing business.
Ndubisi commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for sustaining and accelerating the DSEZ initiative through funding for licensing, infrastructure development and investment support.
Koko Zone targets gas-based industrialisation
The chairman disclosed that the 2,200-hectare Koko Free Trade Zone would focus largely on gas-based manufacturing, including petrochemicals, steel, refining, logistics and agro-processing.
He said the master plan was designed around a self-sustaining industrial city with residential areas, healthcare facilities, commercial centres and vocational institutions.
Ndubisi listed companies currently active in the Koko Zone as Koko Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Delta Energy Park, Tetracore Energy Group and Huafei Auto Trading.
He added that the zone’s strategic location would provide investors with access to multimodal transportation and logistics infrastructure, including proximity to the Koko Port, while also leveraging the agricultural and energy resources available in the region.
Kwale Zone emerges as gas, agro-industrial hub
On the 1,000-hectare Kwale Free Trade Zone, the DSEZ-MC chairman said it was strategically located in Ndokwa West Local Government Area and hosted by five communities: Umuseti, Emu-Ebendo, Obodogwa Ogume, Ogbeole Ogume and Umusam.
He said the zone was strategically positioned over Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 60, 61, 62 and 63 and supported by the OB3 pipeline and ELPS interconnections, giving it significant access to Nigeria’s gas resources.
According to him, companies currently operating in the Kwale Zone include Phoenix Gas, Delta Wire, Xenergi, Chorus Energy, Master Chemicals and Fertilizer, in partnership with Dantata, and South Atlantic LNG.
He disclosed that the zone would also host an African Development Bank (AfDB) agro-industrial hub, with 200 hectares already allocated for the bank’s planned Special Agro-Industrial Processing programme.
Ndubisi further revealed that Phoenix Gas would soon commence operations and make about 3 megawatts of surplus electricity available for distribution to Kwale and neighbouring communities.
Oborevwori approves 5km internal roads
The chairman said Governor Oborevwori had recently approved the construction of five kilometres of internal roads within the Kwale Free Trade Zone, adding that the contractor had already moved to site.
He also disclosed that a separate one-kilometre interlocked road being constructed by Xenergi was nearing completion.
Ndubisi said the ongoing infrastructure projects were critical to attracting more investors and unlocking the economic potential of the zone.
DSEZ to drive Delta Beyond Oil
The DSEZ-MC chairman said the development of the Koko and Kwale Free Trade Zones represented a major step towards building a resilient and diversified economy for Delta State.
He described the project as a product of continuity in governance, noting that the initiative started under former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had been sustained and expanded under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
He said the economic zones would ultimately create opportunities across multiple value chains, particularly for the state’s growing youthful population.
“Soon, Deltans would begin to appreciate the impact of the DSEZ, particularly its value-chain ecosystem, which will provide opportunities for our teeming productive youthful population,” he said.
Ndubisi maintained that the establishment and development of the DSEZ demonstrated the state government’s determination to move Delta away from dependence on a monolithic, oil-driven economy and towards sustainable industrialisation, investment and employment generation.
He expressed optimism that the Koko and Kwale Free Trade Zones would emerge as major economic engines for Delta State and contribute significantly to the realisation of the “Delta Beyond Oil” vision
