LADOL, model for nation’s rapid economic growth - NEPZA

Segun Oladipupo |

Free Trade Zone has described the Lagos Deep Offshore and Logistics Base (LADOL) and other free zones as the modality nations adopt to drive rapid economic growth.

Assistant Manager Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) LADOL Free Zone, Vivian Sheriff Ighomaro stated this when Navy Capt. Abduraheem led students of Junior Division Course 7 of the Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja on an Operational Study Tour on ‘Effective Collaborative Effect of NSC and Other Relevant Stakeholders Towards Enhanced National Security’ to the Lagos Deep Offshore and Logistic Base (LADOL) Free Zone.

She said, “A Free Trade Zone is an industrial area within a geographical location of a country for fiscal exceptions and other activities. Commercial export activities are encouraged in that area and it is a country within a country and the Customs activities in the Free Zones are based on NEPZA Law and the particular Zone’s regulations.

“A Free Zone is a specialised area usually in an enclave usual demarcated where we have enabling business regulations and rules to ensure the drive for economic development and growth is achieved,” she said.

Commenting on the activities of NEPZA, Ighomaro said it was a Federal Government agency that was established by Act 63 of 1992, NEPZA has the responsibility to licence, promote and establish Free Trade Zones across Nigeria.”

Earlier, Capt. Abduraheem said his 18-member team was on a research mission regarding the operations of the Nigerian Customs Services and the agencies they collaborated with.

Commenting on the visit Capt. Abduraheem said, “It was a warm reception, a lot of enlightenment, lectures and presentations were given and a lot of questions we had have all been answered. I am sure the students will find all the information given beneficial in their research work and of course in their careers as they go forward.

“We can see that LADOL’s success is based on its operating plans, which they had since the beginning.” He however charged LADOL to do more so that more people will know who they are.

In her response, the Managing Director of LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, said that the success of LADOL and the ability of the Zone to strategically support a wide range of industries is due to the NEPZA Free Zone platform.

“Since the Zone was designated in 2006, NEPZA has provided an enabling environment, which we understand the FGN is now replicating across the country.

“LADOL, as is the case with all NEPZA Free Zones, operates within the ambit of established rules and regulations of NEPZA. NEPZA also brings other agencies into the Free Zone, including, Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other relevant government agencies.

“When Free Zones are established, each Free Zone has a Free Zone gazette. So, there are gazetted rules and regulations, there is a LADOL Free Zone Gazette, but the Gazette is created by NEPZA, approved by them, and handed down to the zone.

“There is a very strict frame work in place and the Free Zone Management company is responsible for ensuring that the NEPZA rules and regulations as per the Gazette are adhere to on the ground in the Zone. There is also a NEPZA office in each Zone where the Management Company reports to NEPZA”, she said.

Dr. Amy added that as part of the regulations, all the zone enterprises and the management company are restricted from having direct contact with any government agency.

“For the zone to interact with government agencies, we have to go through NEPZA. This means that NEPZA brings customs into the zone and the management company is responsible for making sure that customs is accommodated in the location directed.”