The National Assembly and the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) are in agreement on the urgent need for Free Trade Zone Management Companies and their Enterprises to evolve a more impactful strategy for development and regeneration of their host communities.
This consensus was reached on Monday when the Managing Director of NEPZA, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, led the members of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment on a two-day inspection of activities of some Free Trade Zones located at the Lekki axis of Lagos State.
Sen. Sadiq Suleiman Umar, Chairman of the committee said that it was incumbent on the Free Trade Zone operators and their enterprises to continually assist host communities away from poverty.
Sen. Umar said the Federal Government was concerned on the current spiral `Corporate Social Responsibility’ interventions by the free trade operators in their host communities, adding that a well-defined and measurable approach was required for sustainable re-generation of the people.
“We are delighted with the enormous contributions of the scheme to our nation’s economy so far. From what we have seen, it is safe to say that the Lekki Quadrant provides the Free Trade Zone scheme with an excellent ambience which now serves as an economic gateway for our country.
“The committee, and by extension, the National Assembly will be more gratified if the host communities are given more leverages to boost their prosperity in a measurable manner.
“For example, we want true data on the interventions as progressive reports on the wellbeing of beneficiaries and the impact such targeted actions have on the people.
“ The investors must also take deliberate steps at regenerating the entire Lekki environment in which they operate,’’ Sen. Umar said.
Dr Ogunyemi, while corroborating with Sen. Umar’s position, explained the need for speedy action by the Free Trade Zone operators across the country by adopting the Community Social Regeneration Concept without delay.
“We must continually give credit to His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose foresight led to the setting aside of the area for economic emancipation.
“So, the regeneration of the host communities will enhance more mutuality, respect, and sustainability in bridging the prevailing development gap around the free trade zone ecosystem.
“It is important to state that the operators are obliged to look after the well-being of their host communities to avoid encroachment and conflict. Let us not use the scheme to promote the unpopular `tale of two cites’ of wealth and squalor.’’ He said.
Dr Ogunyemi, who is also the chief executive officer of NEPZA, explained that the scheme had in the last one year deliberately promoted the community regeneration concept to exponentially increase the impact and benefit of the scheme to the population.
The areas visited were the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ); the Dangote Free Zone Enterprise, DFZE (Dangote Refinery); Lagos Free Zone (LFZ); Lekki Deep Seaport’; and a host of other enterprises within the zones.
