Lagos, Nigeria. Tuesday, November 8, 2021. “Lagos Free Zone by Tolaram has the potential to unlock economic opportunities for Nigeria by attracting foreign direct investment (FDI)”, said the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamido Yuguda, during an official visit to the Zone recently, with members of his team and top management of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) led by its Chief Executive Officer, Temi Popoola.
The distinguished guests were welcomed by the CEO of Lagos Free Zone (LFZ), Mr. Dinesh Rathi and his team. Rathi described LFZ as the foremost investment destination for the manufacturing and logistics sector in the country. He highlighted that Lekki Port – a project of national importance and the only deep seaport in Nigeria, is situated in Lagos Free Zone and will commence operations by the first quarter of 2023. He ended his welcome speech by seeking the government’s support for an enabling environment and proper common infrastructure surrounding the Zone, noting that achieving this would go a long way in boosting investor confidence.
Read also: Fintech, Pocketfuel Unveils New Solution For Quicker SME Loans
After his tour of the Zone, Yuguda commented that given the quantum of development and investment domiciled there, LFZ holds the key to Nigeria’s future. He commended LFZ for already contributing immensely to the economy by attracting international brands like Kellogg’s (USA), Dano (Denmark), BASF (Germany) and Colgate (USA) to the Zone.
Impressed by LFZ’s journey, the DG said “Lagos Free Zone is enough to give domestic and international business communities the hope and courage to make valuable investments in Nigeria. You can imagine how much we spend travelling to buy goods abroad. With LFZ, I am convinced that we can transfer some of our demand to local production. I believe this is a bold step by Tolaram to bring back Nigeria’s industrial prowess”.
He pledged SEC’s backing to ensure that LFZ remains attractive to investors and all other stakeholders. He said, “On the regulatory front, we would give you as much support as we can. This is where the government needs to pay serious attention. Policymaking can assist investors to produce goods and services that have the potential to increase the standard of living of our people. We will be your advocate in every respect”.
It was a full day’s event which ended with a vote of thanks from Mr. Rathi. “We appreciate the DG of SEC, other members of the SEC leadership team, and NGX, for finding time to visit the Zone. We’re encouraged by the commitment from all parties to get involved and SEC’s willingness to support us in our journey. Given some of your observations and words of encouragement, we are more convinced that the journey we have embarked upon is on the right path”.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is the regulatory institution for the capital market backed by law. It is responsible for protecting investors and developing the capital market to enhance allocative efficiency and pave the way for a private sector-led economy.
