News

NASS, NEPZA, urge FTZs on need for strategic community regeneration

Published

2 years ago

November 21, 2024

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 concession 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 unpopulartale 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.

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Politics

APC Alleges Atiku, ADC Plot to Undermine Kaduna Campaign Flag-Off

Published

6 hours ago

October 24, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of allegedly orchestrating a disinformation campaign to discredit the party’s presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday.

In a statement issued on Saturday, October 24, 2026, the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, alleged that the former vice president and the ADC planned to circulate fake news, manipulated documents and doctored videos to undermine the campaign, President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and other APC leaders.
Alake claimed that the alleged disinformation campaign involved the use of artificial intelligence, deepfake videos, counterfeit documents and social media platforms to manipulate public opinion.
According to him, the alleged plot had already begun with the circulation of a photograph showing a security vehicle on routine patrol near an APC campaign billboard in Kaduna metropolis.

He alleged that the image was misrepresented to suggest that security personnel had been deployed to protect APC billboards, adding that the narrative was subsequently published by a national newspaper and shared by Atiku on his official social media accounts.

The APC spokesperson further alleged that another document had been circulated online, purportedly showing a letter from Governor Uba Sani to the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, concerning an alleged release of ₦2.3 trillion by the Kaduna State Government to host the rally.

Describing the claim as baseless, Alake questioned the possibility of a state government spending such an amount on a political rally.

He noted that Kaduna State’s budgets for 2024, 2025 and 2026 stood at ₦458.271 billion, ₦790.439 billion and ₦985.9 billion, respectively.

According to him, the combined budgets for the three years amounted to less than ₦2.3 trillion, which he cited as evidence to challenge the claim circulating online.

Alake also alleged that the ADC and Atiku’s supporters were preparing to circulate old, manipulated and deepfake videos during the rally to create the impression of public resentment against the APC.

The council urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and verify information before sharing it, warning against the spread of misleading content on social media and other platforms.It further accused Atiku and the ADC of resorting to what it described as desperate tactics to gain political advantage ahead of future electoral contests.

The allegations were contained in a statement signed by Alake on behalf of the APC Presidential Campaign Council on Saturday.Atiku Abubakar and the ADC’s response to the allegations was not included in the statement.

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