Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Hon. Emmanuel Jime, has described the Eko Atlantic City Free Trade Zone as Nigeria’s “golden egg,” saying that the project promises to generate over 400,000 jobs for Nigerians upon completion.

Jime said this in Lagos on Tuesday during his fact-finding/familiarisation tour of the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island. He pointed out that “the biggest social challenge of the moment was unemployment, and a private sector initiative that can employ over 400,000 Nigerians cannot be toyed with.”

His words: “Part of our long-running challenge is unemployment. And a private sector initiative like the Eko Atlantic is our golden egg; we cannot afford to play with it.

“In the next five years, with this place running at full capacity, the volume of activity here would be unprecedented in terms of multiple economic activities, chain financial reactions, foreign exchange earnings, a cocktail of economic activities, big-time tourism, manufacturing etc.”

He added: “Our challenge is to help these type of enterprises by incentivising them so they can come in and ginger up our economy. The construction of this city from reclaimed land, in my opinion, is in line with the deliberate policy thrust of the administration to partner with the private sector to push our industrial growth by way of attracting foreign direct investment. (FDI).”

On his return to Lagos so soon after last week’s visit, the NEPZA helmsman said it was part of his deliberate plan get as much information as possible before settling down to chart the way forward.

Said he: “So, we have come here to rub mind minds with stakeholders such as this one so as to know the issues on ground. And in doing this, we are also trying to explain to people what NEPZA is all about, why we are here, what our mandate is, and how they can buy into it so together, we can make Nigeria an industrial giant.

“Believe me when I say I am totally taken in by what I have seen on ground here. This type of industrial miracle is happening in our time, and we are privileged to be the midwives of this New Nigeria, a New Nigeria that is not hostage to a mono-economy.

“We are going to be working with other agencies of government like Customs, like Immigrations…in a concerted effort to makes the operating environment conducive for investment. I mention these two especially because they are critical to our plan of driving this process forward.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of South Energyx Nig. (Ltd) (Managers of the City), Jacques Zartarian, said that the construction of the Great Wall of Lagos by the Eko Atlantic City has saved Victoria Island, Oniru and Lekki from being swallowed by the ocean.

The wall, which is 10km long, is 181/2 metres high from sea level, 81/2 metres high above sea level; has a width base of 52 metres and tappers to 121/2 meters at the top.

Jime is accompanied on the tour by top management staff.

•Photo shows NEPZA MD, Hon. Emmanuel Jime (in white) and the MD of South Energyx Nig Ltd (FTZ), Jacques Zartarian, during the former’s familiarization tour of Eko Atlantic City/Nigeria International Commercial City (NICC) yesterday