Nigeria’s drive toward industrial transformation is gaining momentum at the Lekki Free Zone, a 16,000-hectare economic hub along eastern corridor of Lagos State.
Established in 2006, the zone has become a symbol of the nation’s shift from a consumption-driven economy to one powered by production, exports, and global competitiveness.
At the heart of the project is the Lekki Free Zone Development Company (LFZDC), a joint venture between China-Africa Lekki Investment Ltd and the Lagos State Government, operating under the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act. The company aims “to create a one-stop, investor-friendly business environment that meets international standards.”
During a recent tour, LFZDC Managing Director Mr Dai Shunfa said; “the zone was designed to stimulate Nigeria’s economy, attract foreign investment, create jobs, and build a self-sustaining export base.”
“Our vision is to build an offshore economic growth zone that minimises capital flight, creates opportunities, and establishes Nigeria as a global business haven,” Shunfa said.
He said that investor confidence has surged in 2025, with 16 new flagship investors joining between January and October, leading to the sale of over 120 hectares of land, the highest annual record in the zone’s history.
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“This achievement surpasses all the records we achieved in the past seven years. The support we’ve received from the governments of China and Nigeria has been instrumental in this progress,” he added.
LFZDC has also invested heavily in infrastructure. The zone now features a dedicated power plant, water treatment facility, natural gas pipelines, extensive road networks, and a state-of-the-art traffic management system.
Shunfa highlighted the City Gate Station, which delivers 25 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas, expandable to 100 mmscfd, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply to industries in the zone.
He said; “We’ve also completed over 32 kilometres of paved roads with drainage systems and developed a 25,500-square-metre pre-built factory complex for start-ups that lack the initial capital to build from scratch.”
Currently, only 500 hectares out of 3,000 hectares allocated to the company have been developed, leaving ample room for new investors.
Shunfa noted that “projects like the Lekki Deep Seaport and Coastal Highway are transforming the area into a prime industrial corridor in West Africa.”
The Senior Manager, Legal and Compliance, Mr Toluwaleke Adeyele, said the zone’s advanced infrastructure, particularly its access to gas, has made it a preferred destination for manufacturers.
“From heavy industries to light manufacturing, our gas pipeline supported by the Dangote project gives us a competitive edge,” he explained.
Adeyele added that local production within the zone is beginning to replace imports, citing Tyre Assembly plants as examples of its growing industrial capacity.
Similarly, Mr John Anaman, Managing Director of Langsung Electric FZE, described the zone as a model for Nigeria’s industrial future.
“As Nigeria diversifies its economy, the Lekki Free Zone offers a glimpse of what’s possible: a safe, efficient, and export-driven hub that positions Nigeria as Africa’s next manufacturing giant,” he said.
Driving Non-Oil Growth
Experts say the Lekki Free Zone will significantly boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports, strengthen the naira, and contribute substantially to GDP in the coming years.
From petrochemicals and automobiles to food processing and tech start-ups, industries within the zone are producing goods that could soon replace imports, saving billions of dollars in foreign exchange.
The Lagos State Government, through Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, remains the majority shareholder, while the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) provides federal oversight, ensuring the zone remains a benchmark for sustainable industrialisation in Africa.