(DDM) – A major legal dispute has erupted between Enyimba Economic City Development Company FZE and the Abia State Government over the controversial N50 billion Enyimba Economic City project, with the project developers rejecting claims by the state government that it won a recent arbitration case.
The company, in a detailed rebuttal, insisted that both the majority and dissenting rulings of the arbitration tribunal clearly declared that the Abia State Government cannot legally withdraw the Certificate of Occupancy granted for the project land.
The statement, signed by C. Darl Uzu on behalf of the development company, accused the state government of spreading misleading narratives on social media regarding the outcome of the arbitration proceedings.
The developers explained that their response became necessary after receiving nearly 200 inquiries from investors, partners, development institutions, and concerned individuals across Nigeria and abroad seeking clarification on the issue.
According to the company, while the tribunal’s majority ruling ordered the refund of N400 million previously paid by the Abia State Government as part of its investment, the fundamental legal issue about the ownership and withdrawal of the Certificate of Occupancy was decided in favour of the developers.
The firm maintained that both the majority and dissenting opinions of the tribunal agreed that Abia State does not possess the authority to revoke the land title associated with the project.
The Enyimba Economic City project is one of Nigeria’s most ambitious industrial and economic zone initiatives designed to transform the southeastern region into a major international business hub.
The project was conceived as a public-private partnership involving Crown Realties Plc, the Abia State Government, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
It was developed under the Made in Nigeria for Export initiative and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan introduced during the administration of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
The economic city covers approximately 9,803 hectares of land and is designed as a Special Economic Zone intended to host industries in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, entertainment, education, aviation, and technology.
Global consultancy firm CBRE Group handled the economic positioning of the project, while the master plan was developed by Singapore-based Surbana Jurong.
The project has attracted international institutional support, including interest from the African Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, and African Export-Import Bank.
Developers say the initiative has the potential to generate as many as 625,000 direct jobs once fully operational.
In 2019, the project received global recognition when it won first prize for new city business plans at the Charter Cities Institute competition held in Washington, D.C.
The award placed the Nigerian project ahead of rival proposals from Australia and Russia.
According to the company, the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority granted the project official Special Economic Zone status in September 2018.
Further approvals were issued in 2020, including development and municipal management licences from the agency.
The developers revealed that they have invested more than N11 billion in project preparation, financing, and development activities as of December 2022.
They added that when unaudited expenditures from the past three years are included, the total investment in the project exceeds N15 billion.
Considering exchange rate changes since the project began in 2017, the real value of investment is estimated to exceed N50 billion in current terms.
The dispute reportedly intensified after Alex Otti assumed office as governor of Abia State in May 2023.
According to the developers, tensions escalated after they received information that the state government intended to develop its own industrial project on part of the Enyimba Economic City land.
The company alleged that the governor demanded the surrender of 1,000 hectares of land from the project area.
It further claimed that the governor threatened to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy if the demand was not met.
Developers said they informed the governor that the project area could not be altered because it was a federally approved Special Economic Zone regulated by the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority.
They warned that altering the land size would require surrendering existing development licences and conducting new feasibility studies.
According to the company, such studies previously cost about $1.2 million to complete.
Efforts were reportedly made to resolve the dispute amicably.
Prominent Nigerian figures were said to have intervened, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Arthur Eze, Emeka Anyaoku, and Ike Nwachukwu.
However, the company said all mediation efforts failed, forcing it to activate the arbitration clause in its 2017 public-private partnership agreement with the Abia State Government.
The arbitration process reportedly began in March 2024 and concluded in August 2025.
The tribunal delivered its final ruling on February 13, 2026.
Developers say the tribunal confirmed that the state government’s attempt to withdraw the Certificate of Occupancy and seize approximately 929 hectares of the project land was unlawful.
Despite the dispute, the company insists it remains committed to the development of the economic city project.
It also expressed hope that relations with the Abia State Government could eventually improve.
The firm concluded that its goal remains the economic development of Abia State, the wider southeastern region, and Nigeria as a whole.
