Investors interested in locating in one of Nigeria 's Free Trade Zones are only required to follow a few simple steps:

1. Pick up your application form online or from the administration of the Free Zone where you wish to locate or from the office of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) in Abuja . This application form costs N50,000 (non-refundable) or its US Dollars equivalent.

2. Fill out the application and submit it to the zone administration or the NEPZA office in Abuja along with the required feasibility study. Your application will be reviewed and either approved or returned with observations within five working days.

3. If your application is approved, the required Operation Licence can be obtained from the Free Zone administration and from there on you contact your Zone of choice.

As soon as your company possesses an Operating Licence, it is officially incorporated in Nigeria and does not require any additional paperwork. It is at this point that the Free Zone will discuss your location on site with you and assign and reserve a space for you.

4. Remit your investment capital through banks located in the Zone which will in turn issue a Certificate of Capital Importation.

5. Prepare your building or warehouse space. Investors who are constructing their own buildings must submit four copies of the full architectural drawings of their building for approval by the Free Zone according to established building codes. Built-up area should not exceed 70% of the leased land, and construction should start within 3 months after execution of the agreement.

6. Move in and operate! The process is just that easy! The Government has designed the process to be as streamlined and user-friendly as possible.

Some companies may have some additional permits and procedures to follow such as obtaining permission for your foreign national and employees which can be done on-site as immigration offices are in the Free Zones.