Economy
Lagos Investment Destination Gains Global Attention as Obasa Hosts Chinese Delegation
Speaker Obasa declares Lagos Africa’s top investment destination during a diplomatic visit by China’s Guangxi Province delegation
Lagos investment destination status was boldly reaffirmed by Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa, as he hosted a high-level delegation from Guangxi Province, China, led by Zhang Xiaoqin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangxi People’s Congress.
Also read: New Lagos Leather Hub Poised to Transform Local Industry, Global Exports, Says Obasa
Speaking at the Assembly complex on Monday, Speaker Obasa described Lagos as Africa’s foremost business hub, backed by a $260 billion GDP, a 20-million-strong population, and a status as West Africa’s maritime gateway.
“Lagos is more than a city – it is a vision of progress,” Obasa said.
“We have enabling laws, a huge population, and a vibrant economy. It’s the best place to invest in Africa.”
The delegation’s visit, Obasa said, is a watershed moment for bilateral ties between Nigeria and China, with Lagos positioned at the centre of future collaboration in infrastructure, trade, tourism, and legislative cooperation.
He referenced the existing Lagos-China infrastructure partnerships, including the CCECC-led Red and Blue Rail lines, as proof of the state’s openness to strategic global investments.
“We are ready for more collaboration. Lawmaking is the bedrock of progress, and we will align our laws with global best practices for win-win outcomes,” Obasa added.
Guangxi Vice Chairman Zhang Xiaoqin praised Lagos as a “vibrant economic ecosystem,” noting its similarities with Guangxi in maritime strength and trade corridors.
“This visit is a foundation for enduring friendship,” Xiaoqin said.
“We look forward to enhancing cooperation in economy, trade, and tourism. We also hope for more care for Chinese citizens in Lagos.”
Guangxi Province, which borders Vietnam and connects to ASEAN trade routes, shares synergies with Lagos in port logistics, agriculture, and tourism.
Its interest is aligned with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with Lagos poised to play a crucial role.
For Speaker Obasa, the meeting was not just diplomatic — it was symbolic of Lagos’s legislative evolution and global vision.
He pledged continued legislative support to foster sustainable development, welcoming ideas that harness Lagos’s full potential in tourism, infrastructure, and technology.
Also read: Obasa Commends N500Billion ‘Produce For Lagos’ Initiative, Reaffirms Assembly’s Support
“Our Assembly is ready to work with global partners, like Guangxi, to shape a prosperous future for Lagos and for Africa.”
The Oando chief says transparency and stronger institutions are essential for African businesses seeking long-term international capital
Economy
Governor Dauda Lawal Join VP Shettima’s Delegation to Benin Republic, Seeks Industrial Model to Boost Zamfara’s Agric Zones
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has described the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) as a practical blueprint for transforming Zamfara state’s agricultural sector, as he joined Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima and five other governors on a working visit to the Benin Republic industrial hub on Friday.
The delegation toured the 1,640-hectare public-private industrial platform, inspecting integrated textile and agro-processing facilities where locally produced cotton is converted into yarn, fabric and finished garments while cashew and soybean are processed for domestic and export markets. GDIZ, developed by the Beninese government and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms, has created more than 25,000 jobs since production began in 2021.
For Governor Lawal, who presides over an agrarian state with vast arable land and a strong comparative advantage in crop production, the visit presented an opportunity to draw direct lessons for Zamfara’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“Zamfara holds a strong comparative advantage in agriculture. We grow all crops in the state, we are not limited to soybeans. We have the land and it is fertile,” Governor Lawal had told global investors at the Africa Investment Forum in Morocco last November, where he signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) to drive large-scale agricultural transformation under the INTEGRANIUM Initiative.
The GDIZ visit is aimed at strengthening the implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme, drawing practical lessons from Benin’s approach to agricultural value addition, industrial infrastructure, investment mobilisation and export-oriented production. Particular attention was given to the textile park’s integrated production system covering cotton spinning, weaving, fabric processing and garment manufacturing. Governor Lawal believes that Zamfara State can benefit from the $370 billion worth of global cotton valuation by ensuring Zamfara grows more cotton and can also lead the charge by reviving moribund textile manufacturing hubs and value chain which could generate millions of jobs, expand non-oil exports and stimulate economic activities.
Governor Lawal’s participation in the delegation aligns with Zamfara’s recently launched 10-year Development Plan (2025–2034), which envisions the state becoming “a benchmark for transformative economic growth, not merely for Nigeria, but the continent of Africa”. The plan prioritises maximising Zamfara’s agricultural and natural resource strengths through partnerships, mechanised farming, agro-processing and value chains to create jobs, improve food security and reduce poverty-driven insecurity.
Governor Lawal was also in company of other state Governors like; Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Dikko Radda (Katsina), and Umar Namadi (Jigawa). The visit is expected to inform the development of garment-training facilities and dedicated processing infrastructure near agricultural production communities across Nigeria.
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