Lagos Governor says Lekki Free Trade Zone important to state's economy

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State says the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) is an important project to the state' s economy and key to its job creation effort.

Ambode spoke on Wednesday while receiving the report of a five- man Tribunal of Inquiry set up on Oct. 22, 2015 to look into causes of civil disturbances that occurred at the LFTZ on Oct.12, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Company,Alhaji Tajudeen Disu, was shot by assailants during an official visit to one of the villages within the zone.

The late Disu was resolving a land dispute between members of Okunraye community and some private companies embarking on various massive projects within the LFTZ.

Ambode said: "We will do everything to ensure the success of the project and any issues concerning its success will be treated with dispatch.

"Let me assure members of the public and investors that the state government will always uphold the rule of law and continue to provide a conducive atmosphere for businesses to thrive."

The governor said that the panel was primarily set up with the aim of looking into the origin, factors and circumstances leading to the breach of peace within the zone.

"The report of the tribunal has been submitted; the state government will give serious consideration to the recommendations of the tribunal.

"We will also take decisions to ensure that such incident does not occur again," he said.

Ambode commended the panel for its diligence within the time frame of 45 days given to carry out the assignment.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi, said that members looked into the remote and immediate causes of disturbances which claimed the life of Disu.

He said that the tribunal also considered ways and means to be adopted to prevent a recurrence.

Olateru-Olagbegi said that the tribunal received 22 memoranda and had 33 witnesses, while 24 recommendations were made.

According to him, the LFTZ has vast potentials to transform the economic landscape of the state in terms of job creation and revenue generation, among others.