The Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, said the Lekki Textile and Garment Special Economic Zone project located in the Eyin-Osa area of Epe, Lagos State will generate 5,000 direct and over 20,000 indirect jobs when operational.
Dr Ogunyemi, also the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, made the remarks on Friday, while disbursing cash compensation to the seven Eyin-Osa families that contributed the 240.09 Acres of land for this Federal Government project.
The Managing Director, represented by Director of Zone Operations, Mrs Chika Ibekwe, said that the community would be continually regenerated, adding that the benefits that would accrue from the gestures would spill over to several generations.
The beneficiaries included families of Olayinka Salami, Aderenle village; Muhammed Balogun; Bashorun Seidu; Iyanda; Matanmi Mobolaji; as well as the Agara Onileyan respectively.
“The space will generate 5000 direct and over 20,000 indirect jobs for the country, just as it will serve the export markets of the South-West region.
“There are many benefits to gain from the SEZ, including employment generation, especially to the local community, opportunity for backward linkage, improvement of infrastructure network around the project, and others too numerous to mention now,’’ he said.
Dr Ogunyemi further said the development was in line with the goals and objectives of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
He however stated that the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not just interested in attracting Foreign Direct Investments through the Free Trade Zone Scheme but was also interested in the development of all the host communities.
On his part, President, Eyin-Osa United Kingdom Development Association (EUKDA), Alhaji Muftau Shittu, said the umbrella association for the host community, said that the area had been occupied by their forefathers for over 500 years.
He said that at the beginning, the enclaves and villages that constituted the community had lived in peace practising economic activities such as farming, hunting, fishing, brewing of hot drinks and timber lumbering.
Shittu however, said trouble started in mid-year 2003 when groups of land grabbers started claiming ownership of Eyin-Osa lands from the original and rightful owners.
