LFZ AND ITS EXHIBITION ARE WORLD CLASS INITIAVES
-THOMPSON ADEYEMO, DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

Lekki Free Zone Development Company is a joint venture between the Lagos State Government in Nigeria and a consortium of Chinese Companies known as, CCECC-BEYOND International. The Company has access to Government departments in both China and Nigeria including the Customs Department, and the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) to ensure the maximum granting of the preferential polices and incentives for the investors in the zone.
In an interview with A&B, the company’s Deputy Managing Director, Thompson Adeyemo reveals the mission of the trade zone, why it’s staging a first of its kind exhibition among sundry issues.

Let’s get to know you sir
Adeyemo Thopmson is my name and I am the Deputy Managing Director of the joint venture company known as Lekki Free Zone. I am a legal practitioner by training and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983 and operates a law firm until I was appointed a Special Assistant to the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the free zone project. The vision made the present Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to appoint me as the Deputy Managing Director.

What’s the vision of Lekki Free Zone
In order to fully utilize the business potential interest in Lagos State and to also optimise the benefits therein, the Lagos State Government, through the initiative of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, constituted two committees in December 2003 to midwife the Lekki Free Trade Zone Project for the stimulation of the entire economy, attracting local and foreign investors, diversification of the state revenue base, creating and encouraging backward images and integration with foreign partners, ensuring effective exploration of the country's abundant resources, generation of employment opportunities and skill acquisition for the masses, creation of wealth for the citizens
Free zones are tailored to the needs of the society and Lekki Free Zone is tailored to meet the demand of Lagosians. The concept goes beyond industry, but building a mega city. The whole idea is to have people work and leave in their vicinity or proximity.

This laudable project must have its challenges, what are they
A project of this magnitude must have its challenges and some of the challenges here come with different measures that include community issues. Even in China, these occur because our partners here related what their experience was when they were trying to build a trade zone there too. We’ve attended free zones conferences where issues of community are related so that’s why I said it’s not unusual.
Another challenge is the infrastructure. Lack of good roads, electricity problems and all what developing countries go through are what we are experiencing.
In developing country, all these infrastructures are not present which is a challenge too. Don’t forget that we are selling a free zone idea that is not known yet, so it’s going to be a little bit hard to gain acceptance now. We had issues with even the government’s agencies who don’t have the idea of what the free zone looks like, but with lots of training, they now understand that you don’t need to get to the port, with the aid of a free zone, to clear your goods. We’ve been able to overcome almost all these challenges.

Will sub-standard goods importer not see these free zones as an avenue to import their goods with
less supervision
The free zone also operates as a government agency and that’s why we have Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). The licensing, monitoring and regulation of Free Zones Scheme in Nigeria is vested in the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones' Act 63 of 1992. Several factors are responsible for the adoption of Free Zones Scheme in Nigeria, amongst which are the diversifications of the revenue base of the economy, employment generation and to encourage export through local production.
The enabling Act also confers on the Authority the power to approve and grant all licenses and permits to the exclusion of all other Agencies, enforce obedience and compliance to rules and regulations. In effect, the Act is an omnibus law, which permits the Authority and its Board the power to define the policy directions and provide a One-Stop-Shop business transaction without bureaucracy. When we start full operations, agencies that regulate standard and quality will be at the gate of operations and the act that established us never supported that.

Definitely goods will be imported from China, which is known for sub-standard goods, what’s your take on that
That is a misconception. The Chinese government is aware of this misconception and that is one reason their government has approved us as their authorised agency to clear goods coming from the country instead of it being smuggled into the country from a neighbouring country. We will ensure that goods coming here will be of good standard.

Let’s talk about your coming exhibition, what do you tend to achieve
The exhibition will be coming up between November 23 and 25 and we are calling on all prospective investors in this country to respond to this lifetime opportunity. This exhibition is going to be first of its kind in this part of the world, attracting multi-national brands from every part of the world.
It is going to create employment, build Nigeria manufacturing industry that is dying, help local contractor by exposing them to their experienced counterparts and many more. We have the support of both the state and federal government on this project and we have government agencies around too. These government agencies have been sent abroad for courses to have a good knowledge of how free trade zones operate.
You are familiar with the international trade fair in this country, but I tell you that what this exhibition is going to look like is what is available in places like China and America.

Where do you want to see Lekki Free Zone in few years to come
To be in the same class with Tuzo, free zone of international repute in China that make use of the water ways. We want people to be here and not recognise that they are in Nigeria, to become a world standard trade zone of class