The Lagos Free Zone, Nigeria’s first private Special Economic Zone (SEZ), has been stimulated by the United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, as it expressed its preparedness to drive Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to the zone.

The US ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr, gave this assurance during a visit to the LFZ on Monday.

The Lagos Free Zone is located in Lagos State, the commercial centre of West Africa’s largest economy, and is promoted by Singapore-based Tolaram. It covers an area of 860 hectares and is equipped with world-class infrastructure and a single clearance window for ease of doing business.

Mills Jr stated during the visit that they would encourage US firms, companies to give consideration to investing in the LFZ, adding that the forthcoming 2025 U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Angola offers a veritable platform to meet with U.S. investors and companies.

He said, “I am impressed with the master plan for the Zone, the infrastructure and the level of investment here at the Lagos Free Zone, and it is gratifying to see major American companies and brands such as Kellogg’s and Colgate already having operations in the Zone.”

Adesuwa Ladoja, the Chief Executive Officer of the LFZ, while welcoming the US ambassador and his team, stated that the Zone is the most preferred investment destination with world-class infrastructure and incentives that any serious business needs to thrive and make huge returns on investments.

She stressed the need for the United States diplomatic community to assist by helping to convince American businesses and investors to consider the Zone as their investment destination of choice. She explained that establishing the Zone has had a monumental impact on Nigeria’s economic prosperity, stating that this is evident in the increased volume of economic activities in Nigeria and the thousands of jobs generated.

Ladoja also appreciated the Federal Government for the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which she stated is a stimulus to the LFZ as it would further boost cargo evacuation from the zone.