Ben Eguzozie
Ogun state’s Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a premier industrial and economic hub, established in 2008 at Igbesa in Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government Area of the state, is gaining traction, attracting more than $1 billion from some 160 Chinese companies.
According to the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, the FTZ will soon receive more than 100 Chinese investors. The envoy told Governor Dapo Abiodun in Abeokuta that the state already hosts about 160 Chinese companies which have invested more than $1 billion at the Free Trade Zone, assuring that additional 100 investors from China were on their way to the state.
The governor has also called for a partnership with Chinese investors to explore the numerous mineral resources that abound in the state; saying Ogun, as a gateway state, boasts of abundant natural resources, making it the largest contributor in Nigeria’s non-oil sector, hence the need for the state to partner with Chinese investors for more coordinated exploration.
He listed the mineral resources available in the state to include gold, clay, bitumen, limestone, kaolin, glass sand, granite, number one in cassava, eggs, poultry, and fish production; adding that the state’s land is fertile for cultivation of cocoa, rubber, and cashew; as well as the number one producer of cement in Nigeria, and the third in Africa behind Egypt and Morocco.
“We have huge human resource potential because we are the education capital of our nation. We have more educational institutions than any other state. We look forward to partnering with Chinese investors in the area of exploring our natural resources because some of your people have connived with the locals to explore our mineral resources illegally without paying attention to the environment,” Governor Abiodun told the Chinese envoy.
He acknowledged the exploits of Chinese investors in the global economy, noting that his administration, since inception, has focused on how to attract more investors by creating an enabling environment and promoting the idea of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to galvanize the state’s economy. He said his administration has created agencies aimed at making business seamless, eliminating bottlenecks and putting in place a multimodal transport system that connects air, rail, and road transport together.
Abiodun said the state administration has constructed a world-class airport, approved for commercial flights by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and has also commenced the construction of a Dry Inland Port at Kajola, while a deep seaport is planned at Olokola.
The Chinese ambassador, Yu Dunhai ascribed the influx of Chinese investors to Ogun State to the conducive business environment, good weather, and the friendly nature of the people as the core attractions. Nigeria, the ambassador said, is China’s biggest trading partner on the continent; adding that the signing of a bilateral agreement between President Bola Tinubu and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, was to reposition Nigeria-China relations for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Ambassador Dunhai said the Chinese government encourages Chinese companies to come to Nigeria because it is the largest market in Africa. She said the companies have provided job opportunities to the locals, contributing to manufacturing, trade, and investment in Nigeria.
The chairman of the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, Hafsat Balewa said the Chinese
government, through the free trade zone, has contributed significantly to Ogun State’s gross domestic product, and Nigeria as a whole.
The Ogun-Guangdong FTZ offers benefits for businesses looking to establish or expand in Nigeria, providing tax incentives, world-class infrastructure, and seamless access to local and international markets. The zone spans nearly 10,000 hectares, and serves as a gateway for manufacturing, innovation, and international trade within West Africa. The FTZ is positioned a short distance from
Lagos—Nigeria’s commercial heartbeat. Its current production activities include ceramics and sanitary wares, TV and electronics assembly, furniture and wood products, and car batteries and tyres.
