Tinubu Vows to Turn Lekki Into Business Paradise

[Richard Akindele]

Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State yesterday restated his determination to create a global business paradise in the Lekki Peninsular axis.

The governor spoke at the Alausa oval office when he hosted members of the Lekki free trade zone committee and private investors from China who were at Alausa oval office to brief him on the progress made since a similar meeting took place four months ago.

The Governor assured members of the delegation of the total support of the state government in terms of the safety of their business investments in the Lekki free trade zone.

He emphasized that the buck on land matters stops on the table of the governor and assured that the investors should exercise no fears about the threats of land speculators in the Lekki area.

Asiwaju Tinubu added that it is a great thing of joy that a journey which started five years ago as a dream has today become a reality due to the resoluteness of all parties concerned in the project actualization.

Earlier, the leader of the Chinese delegation, Mr. Cheng Xiaoping had informed that the Lekki free trade project is expected to generate employment opportunities for over 300,000 people when it gets on full stream.

He added that when the President of China recently visited Nigeria, the free trade zone formed part of the issue he raised with the Nigerian government and it enjoyed the support of the President.

Mr Xiaoping informed that the first phase of the project would cover 1000 hectares which would take about 10 years to accomplish and cost about 26.7million dollars.

He added that the first phase would involve the provision of a power station, a water sewage plant, external roads and water treatment plants which take adequate care of the business concerns being planned for the area.

He expressed the opinion that with the speed at which the programme is gathering full stream, a forum of all the investors and the government would hold in China first before a similar one takes place in Lagos to appraise the programme.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lekki Free Trade Zone implementation committee, Alhaji Segun Jawando informed that the committee has obtained the approval of the Federal Government and the Nigerian Export Free Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) to commence work on the zone.


Source: This Day.