Business
Olokola’s Proximity To Lagos Good For Business – NAGAFF
The National Associa-tion of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has said that on completion, the Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ogun State will serve the proximity factor to the seaports in Lagos State .
National President of NAGAFF, Chief Eugene Nweke made this disclosure during the NAGAFF 2013 Annual General Meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun State recently.
He noted that 25 percent of freigh forwarders operating in Lagos ports reside in Ogun State, urging the Federal Government to collaborate with the government of the state because of the proximity attached to it as regards trade facilitation.
Nweke reiterated that Olokola as it stands covers a landscape of 10,000 hectares of land with three free trade zones scattered all over the state which in turn is good for business.
He said that NAGAFF as a professional group, is in a better position to advice the government on the rudiment of the maritime industry on how to carry out feasibility studies to decentralise import activities in the country.
Nweke stressed that “typical of our public policy advocacy campaign, this year’s theme: Free Trade Zone as Catalyst for International Trade Distribution and Networking, Olokola Free Trade Zone in focus was designed to focus the world attention on this goldmine.
“Our choice of this theme is borne out of our experience as major stakeholders in the supply chain sector and the attendant problems from the congestion at Lagos ports, hence the need to encourage an overflow of imports to neighbouring ports using available gift of nature like waterways which locations like Olokola offers us as a nation.
“We are also passionate about this Olokola FTZ because we are convinced that if properly harnessed, it can help the state to solve a lot of problems confronting it in the area of revenue generation, employment, technological transfer, social amenities, infrastructural development among others”.
The president noted that NAGAFF is willing to put it expertise in place to actualise the dream of the Olokola project.
Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikun1e Amosu, however said that the success of the Olokola Free Trade Zone will open up trade opportunities that will be beneficial to Nigeria and the gateway state.
The governor who describes the project as a mega project said that with the utmost support of key stakeholders in the maritime industry like NAGAFF, the Olokola Free Trade Zone project will surely be realized.
Represented by his Special “Adviser on Special projects, Lekan Onomusi, at the event, the governor said his administration was disposed to commercial industrialization which he expressed confidence that the Olokola Free Trade Zone and Deep Sea Port will adequately provide for.
The governor appreciated NAGAFF for its keen interest in the advocacy for FTZ development that has led to the hosting of the associations AGM by his state.
Meanwhile the founder ofNAGAFF, Dr. B niface Aniebonam, informed the Ogun State government of the association willingness and readiness on the FTZ to achieve a vibrant internationa0″ade distribution and networking.