NEPZA pledges to stimulate international patronage of  LADOL free zone

 

Segun Oladipupo     |   

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba has said that the Authority would support LagosDeep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) to attract agricultural processing and healthcare companies.

He made the promise recently during his official visit to LADOL 

Apart from helping to attract agricultural and healthcare products, he also.promised that the Zone would help in engendering partnership with international companies such as Mammoet.

While commending the facility, Prof Adesugba said that LADOL is expanding to support a wide range of industries which will be strategic for both organizations and the country at large.

His words, “More than one billion dollar is spent by Nigerians going abroad for medicals tourism every year and that is an opportunity for us now that nobody can travel to attract very good investment in this sector and to get the hospital to come very close to us in Nigeria by using the Free Zone strategy. 

“This is one area we will be very happy to work with you [LADOL] in promoting. 

“Also, the very important aspect of Agriculture Free Zone. I am happy that you are thinking in that direction.”

He further explained that he had assumed the leadership position of the agency at a time when COVID-19 pandemic was ravaging the world, necessitating a holistic strategy towards medical tourism using Free Zone approach in Nigeria.

In agriculture, Prof Adesoji Adesugba commended LADOL initiative in setting up more cold store facilities, which he suggested could also service the fishing industry in Nigeria, which he identified as a key opportunity for private sector owing to the significant amount of fish Nigerians consume annually.

The visitor, who had a long illustrious career in the Nigerian Customs Service before working with NIPC, reiterated the importance of maintaining a harmonious, seamless working relationship between NEPZA and its sister agencies in Free Zones. 

Such harmony according to him, will ensure that Free Zones can contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth and meet government objectives of encouraging industrialisation. 

 

“Strengthening of the NEPZA Free Zone scheme will make Nigerian industries highly competitive, especially in the light of the recently signed CFTA, the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement”, he noted.

He commended LADOL in keeping a healthy relationship with NEPZA and all the government agencies in the zone.

“I have also thought about the reason why government set up NEPZA… because they are supposed to be geographic enclaves that operate with the same rules and standards of other Free Zones across the world.”

The NEPZA boss stated that Nigeria as country was very serious and committed to industrialisation and ensuring that finished goods are not dumped in the country. 

 

“Industrial and logistics developments such as LADOL are key to this” 

 

The Managing Director pledged that NEPZA would encourage  LADOL more than they have done before.

Managing Director of LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi noted that Prof. Adesoji Adesugba was more than qualified to take NEPZA to the next level.

She expressed gratitude on behalf of the board, staff and Management for the visit and promised that they would all continue the development of LADOL to achieve the mission and vision of making Nigeria the industrial hub for Africa.