The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) says the establishment of three zones in Warri, Lagos and Brass went through due process.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Company Secretary, Mr Abdul Sule, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
“The establishment of the Oil and Gas free zones at Warri, Lagos and Brass went through due process and diligence and have been gazetted accordingly by the Federal Government and therefore legal,” it said.
It explained that the authority had the power to establish oil and gas free zones under Section 5 of the OGFZA Act of 1996.
According to the statement, the Act empowers the agency to take over functions of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority.
It therefore urged the public to disregard speculations in some quarters that OGFZA do not have the mandate to establish free zones.
The authority also assured that as a federal government agency it would continue to carry out its statutory responsibilities within the ambit of the law for the benefit of the country.