Sanwo-Olu seeks regional trade ties, infrastructure investments to boost exports
The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged national and sub-national leaders to dismantle bureaucratic bottlenecks and build robust trade corridors to unlock Nigeria’s export potential under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
Speaking at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, the Governor stressed that regional integration must move beyond policy documents through the urgent simplification of customs procedures and the modernization of one-stop border posts across West Africa.
He maintained that state-level economic resilience relies heavily on strategic multi-modal infrastructure investments, citing the Lagos blueprint of integrated roads, rail networks, deep-sea ports, and digital broadband as essential to reducing the cost of doing business.
Highlighting a major agricultural milestone, Sanwo-Olu announced that the state’s 500-hectare food logistics hub—set to be the largest in sub-Saharan Africa—is now 70 per cent complete and on track for commissioning before the end of December 2026.
The landmark facility incorporates the nation’s largest dedicated cold-chain unit, designed specifically to tackle severe post-harvest losses that currently destroy up to 45 per cent of agricultural yields across Nigeria.
To support local productivity, the Governor called for stronger “triple helix” cooperation between government, banks, and private investors, urging financial institutions to offer concessionary credit to help small enterprises scale up for international markets.
He further emphasized that streamlining digital services and easing regulatory burdens are essential to help local artisans, farmers, and tech innovators navigate compliance and join continental supply chains.
Sanwo-Olu concluded that Nigeria’s ultimate success within the continental trade zone depends entirely on the readiness of its sub-national economies to produce, store, and move goods efficiently.
