…..as Managing Director of Lekki Free Zone Development Company debunks negative perception, highlights progress and sustainability drive
By our reporters
For nearly two decades, the Managing Director of the Lekki Free Zone Development Company (LFZDC), Mr. Dai Shunfa has been part of Nigeria’s evolving investment story; from years of skepticism to a gradual resurgence in confidence.
And for him, the biggest battle is not against insecurity or policy inconsistency, but the persistent misrepresentation of Nigeria abroad.
According to him, “Actually, I think the most serious challenge we are facing to attract new investments is because there are a lot of rumors, a lot of bad news about Nigeria.
“It’s like in the world outside Nigeria, people are believing that we have kidnapping, we have killing every day here. So this kind of rumors left a very bad image to all the customers outside Nigeria.”
Rewriting the story of Nigeria’s safety and investment climate
Dai’s words cut through the noise of the global narrative that often paints Nigeria as ungovernable and dangerous. To him, Nigeria is misunderstood; a country full of hardworking people, loyal partners, and genuine opportunities that many investors overlook due to exaggerated media stories.
That belief has not just remained a statement; it has translated into visible growth within the zone.
According to Dai, over 130 enterprises have been registered, and 67 are already operational within the 3,000-hectare free trade area jointly owned by the Lagos State Government and China-Africa Lekki Investment Ltd.
He said, “I always tell my partners in China that Nigeria is not what you see on television. I go to work, I move around, and I have never been attacked. People are friendly, and the government is trying its best to make the country safe for business.”
Speaking about the enterprise, DAI said, “Actually, we have more than 130 enterprises. Among the 130 of them, I think 67 of them are under operation. But your question whether we have enough or not, definitely it’s not enough.”
The Managing Director revealed that from January to date, the zone has recorded its highest land sales and investment entries since inception.
“From January up to now, we sold more than 110 hectares of land to 16 flagship customers. This record surpassed all the records we achieved in the past seven years,” he said proudly.
The infrastructure that powers industrial trust
Infrastructure; roads, power, and connectivity; is what truly convinces investors that Nigeria is ready for business.
Under Dai’s leadership, the LFZDC has accelerated infrastructure expansion, ensuring that investors not only build but operate efficiently.
He noted that the Lekki Deep Sea Port, located within the zone, has become a game-changer for logistics and export operations.
He said, “We have worked hard to make sure the basic infrastructure is ready before new investors come in.
“Power supply is stable, internal roads are paved, and we have constant access to natural gas pipelines that run across the Lekki corridor.
“The port makes this place unique. Investors can produce and ship directly to any part of the world without depending on congested ports in other states. That is part of the advantage that makes Lekki Free Zone different.”
Dai added that continuous collaboration with both the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) ensures that investors operate in a stable, transparent environment.
“Government agencies here have been supportive. We get quick responses when we have any challenge. That is the kind of environment every investor wants.”
Promoting clean, sustainable industries
One of the points Mr. Dai repeatedly emphasized was sustainability.
The Lekki Free Zone, he said, is consciously designed to avoid heavy-pollution industries.
He believes that the future of African industrialization lies in clean energy, circular economy, and manufacturing that protects the environment.
He said, “First of all, we don’t have any heavy pollution industry here. The heavy pollution industry is not even welcome. We are also trying our best to attract green energy. Now, we have more than five or six different enterprises manufacturing solar panels.
“We cannot build industries that destroy what we want to develop. That is why our model is not just about profit, but about responsibility.”
Beyond sustainability, Dai also spoke about innovation.
“We are working with some technology companies from China and Nigeria to introduce smart industrial systems. Automation, renewable energy, and waste management are part of our long-term plan.” He said.
People behind the progress
For Dai, the success of the free zone is not just in figures but in people.
Over 70 percent of workers in the zone are Nigerians, ranging from engineers and administrative staff to technical experts and logistics officers.
He recalled how, at the early stages of the zone’s construction, local workers built roads, laid cables, and installed power infrastructure side by side with Chinese engineers.
He said, “Every company that comes here employs Nigerians. That’s what makes the project meaningful. We are not only bringing in foreign investment, but we are building local capacity.
“It was teamwork. Nigerians are hardworking people, and they are fast learners. That is one thing that always makes me proud,” Dai said.
A personal journey of trust and conviction
When asked what keeps him in Nigeria despite global narratives of insecurity, Dai said, “I have spent almost 20 years here. I came here when Lekki was just bush and sand. Today, we have industries, we have roads, and we have a seaport. That’s progress. That’s what keeps me here.”
To him, every day at the zone is a reminder that trust is built, not imported.
“Many people outside Nigeria don’t understand this country, They need to come and see what we are building here. Nigeria is a safe country for business.”
His optimism is not blind. He acknowledges challenges; foreign exchange volatility, infrastructure costs, and policy uncertainties, but he insists that they are surmountable with consistency and dialogue.
“What investors need is stability and transparency. Once they see that, they will come. Nigeria has all the ingredients for success: the market, the manpower, the energy. What we must keep improving is the image and the trust.”he said
Promoting clean energy and Made-in-Nigeria goods
Senior Manager, Legal and Compliance of LFZDC, Mr. Toluwaleke Adeyele, said the company’s operations are driven by clean energy principles and the promotion of local production.
He added that the free zone’s proximity to major infrastructure projects gives investors a comparative advantage.
He said, “Most of our enterprises don’t use diesel for power. We use natural gas for our power. Lekki Free Zone is one of the only assets now that actually has its own gas because of the opportunity of the gas pipe that was running through Dangote. So we have pipe gas right now, and most of the other free zones don’t have it.
“We are close to the Deep Sea Port, the Coastal Highway, and the gas pipeline. These things make Lekki Free Zone very strategic for manufacturers who want to produce and export directly,” he said.
Also speaking, the Marketing Manager of LFZDC, Mr. Toheeb Giwa, said the zone’s priority is to encourage local manufacturing that adds value to the Nigerian economy.
Giwa added that the zone has created thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.
“We encourage made-in-Nigeria goods here because we believe that the more we produce, the more we strengthen trade and the economy.
“The companies here are not just producing for Nigeria alone; they are producing for export. That is the vision to make Nigeria a hub of industrial trade in West Africa.
“Every enterprise here employs Nigerians. From construction to operations, Nigerians are gaining skills and employment,” he said.
