Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, is seeking more private sector participation in improving the investment opportunities available in the state.
Fashola speaking at the second edition of Corporate Assembly, a platform for interface between the government and the organised private sector (OPS), held at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), on Thursday, said the dedication and commitment of the private sector was crucial to the development of the free trade zone project.
The governor, while responding to questions from stakeholders at the forum, said the purpose of moving the meeting to the trade zone was to give the business community a feel of what the zone is like so that we can know exactly what they are investing in.
He pointed out that trade zones are efforts put up by inspired leadership world over to drive investment and create opportunity to grow the economy.
He explained that the construction of deep sea port to drive cargo movement to the trade is underway as contractors are on site to ensure the work is completed in good time. He called on the organised private sector to partner with the state in this regard.
The governor further pointed out that the strategic move to improve access to the free trade zone through provision of airport and sea port is so as to take advantage of the location of the trade zone to neighbouring countries and Europe. According to him, “everybody has to be dedicated to this project, once the private sector commitment is here, it will move growth and development”.
He noted that the Lekki trade zone was a project with well detailed master-plan, assuring small and medium scale enterprises operators of government commitment to ensuring that they get value for their investment.
While stressing the importance of power, agric, transportation and housing sector to the success of the present administration, Fashola said his administration will in the short term fast track the improvement of water transportation through the lagoon to assist in cargo movement within the zone.
JOSHUA BASSEY &
KELECHI EWUZIE
