LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured that his administration will provide all incentives required to hasten the development of the Lekki Free Trade Zone that parades multi-billion dollars investments.
The governor gave the assurance on Wednesday, while speaking with newsmen after inspection tour of the Free Trade Zone nestled on 16,000 hectares of land and habours $11 billion Dangote Refinery, as well as other multi-billion dollars investments driven by consortium of Chinese companies.
According to Ambode, inputs from the zone was needed to boost economic prosperity of the country and a major catalyst for the development of Lagos State, saying he came for the tour to see the level of development going on here.
“I came here to see the level of development that is going on here. The Free Trade Zone is a major catalyst for the development of Lagos State.
It was started during the administration of Senator Bola Tinubu and continued by my predecessor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola.
“I have come here to give my commitment that we would follow up with this project, because it is going to be a major catalyst to the economy to this particular zone, as well as the economy of Nigeria.
“Whatever it is that we need to do together alongside the community, we have gotten their commitment that we would join hands together to move this project forward,” Ambode said.
The governor also said his administration would look at the Lekki Seaports which had been idle for about nine years and ensure it was revamped.
According to him, “there is no way we would have this Free Trade Zone, if the port is not activated. It needs to be reviewed. My administration will look at it and make sure the port is activated and construction starts immediately.
While lauding the community and the consortium of Chinese Companies for supporting the state in the project, Governor Ambode, who expressed surprise that some communities in the area did not have electricity in the last five years, assured the people that the issue of electricity would be looked at within the next four weeks.
“I also want to assure the people here that the issue of electricity will be looked at. Its surprising that some communities here do not have electricity in the last five years.
“In the next four weeks, something must happen. It is totally unacceptable and we would make sure that we bring succor to our people.
“That is why we are in government and that is what they have told us we should do and that is what we will do everyday in this administration,” he said.
He lauded the community and the consortium of Chinese Companies for supporting the state in the project.