Interview: Lagos Free Zone – India’s Gateway to Africa
Exclusive Interview with Mrs. Adesuwa Ladoja, MD & CEO, LFZ
As Indian exporters navigate rising U.S. tariffs, the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ) in Nigeria is emerging as a strategic gateway for Indian enterprises seeking cost-effective access to African and global markets. In an exclusive interaction with India Shipping News in New Delhi, Mrs. Adesuwa Ladoja, Managing Director & CEO of Lagos Free Zone, sheds light on how the zone is transforming into a bilateral trade hub, offering Indian businesses a competitive advantage with world-class infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and sector-specific investment opportunities.
Excerpts of an Interview
Q. With the U.S. raising duties on Indian exports to 50 percent effective August 27, 2025, how is LFZ strategically positioning itself as a cost-efficient springboard for Indian enterprises entering Africa?
At Lagos Free Zone(LFZ), we are acutely aware that rising protectionism is reshaping global trade. For Indian enterprises, this is the right time to diversify markets and build resilience. Nigeria, with its 200+ million consumers and access to the ECOWAS region of over 400 million people, presents a natural alternative. LFZ offers a cost-efficient entry point where Indian exporters can set up local manufacturing or value-addition facilities within the free zone. By producing in LFZ, Indian companies can leverage preferential tariffs, duty waivers on imports, and seamless access to both African and regional markets. This combination of cost savings and market access makes LFZ an ideal springboard at a time when global supply chains are being redefined.
Q. Given Nigeria’s average import tariffs of around 12 percent, what comparative advantages does LFZ offer Indian exporters seeking competitive trade terms?
The recent tariff adjustments in the U.S. highlight a clear opportunity. While Indian exports face relatively higher tariffs, Nigerian exports benefit from lower average duties. This creates a natural advantage for Indian businesses looking to strengthen their global competitiveness. By establishing a presence in Lagos Free Zone, companies can manufacture, assemble in Nigeria and access international markets under more favourable conditions. What makes LFZ particularly compelling is the business environment it offers. All imports into the Zone, whether raw materials, components, or capital equipment, are duty-free. Companies in LFZ enjoy zero federal, state, and local taxes on Export income and profits can be fully repatriated without withholding tax. Exports to other countries are duty-free and even when catering to Nigeria’s domestic market, duties are applied only on the raw material content, making operations significantly more cost-efficient. In essence, Lagos Free Zone provides Indian enterprises with a strategic platform: one that combines access to Africa’s rapidly growing market with the ability to remain competitive globally. It is a gateway for Indian companies to expand their international footprint in a cost-efficient and future-ready manner.
Q. Reflecting on your role in securing key legal and regulatory milestones for the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which reached financial close in 2020, completion in 2022, and full commercial operations by April 2023, what lessons are you applying today to advance LFZ’s broader ecosystem?
There were several occasions during the Lekki Port journey where I was directly involved. At the start, Nigeria had no precedent for a greenfield PPP in the maritime sector. We had to build from scratch – working with public partners to establish a contractual framework aligned with global best practices, apportion risk fairly, and secure nearly 40 permits from over 15 agencies.
We also faced uncontrollable challenges between 2011 and 2020: leadership transitions, a sharp container market downturn in 2014 – 15, and consistent Naira depreciation. At times, stalling or even abandoning the project seemed easier. But we stayed constructive and solution-oriented, convinced that Nigeria needed a modern port built to global standards.
In the end, perseverance and commitment prevailed. Today, the Lekki Port – Lagos Free Zone ecosystem is delivering what many thought impossible. The key lesson: with persistence, collaboration, and clarity of purpose, transformative projects can be achieved and the best is yet to come.
Q. What unique infrastructure such as Grade-A warehouses, internal roads, power systems, and a one-stop digital administrative hub distinguishes LFZ from other African industrial zones?
What sets LFZ apart is its design as a fully integrated industrial city with world-class infrastructure. We provide Grade-A warehouses, plug-and-play industrial facilities and over 25 km of internal roads that ensure seamless goods movement. Reliable power is guaranteed through a dedicated PNG powered power plant, addressing one of the biggest challenges investors face in Africa. In addition, our one-stop Central processing centre centralizes customs, immigration and regulatory services, eliminating delays and bureaucracy. With direct access to the Lekki Deep Sea Port and strong road connectivity, LFZ uniquely positions investors, especially Indian enterprises, to operate at global standards while gaining faster, cost-efficient access to African and international markets.
Q. Since the port’s launch, LFZ has welcomed major shipping lines including COSCO, Ocean Network Express (ONE), and ZIM. How has this broadened trade access, improved shipment flexibility, and impacted FDI in LFZ?
The arrival of global shipping lines such as COSCO, ONE, and ZIM has been transformative. It has opened up direct connections to Asia, Europe, and the Americas, significantly reducing transit times and logistics costs for investors in LFZ. With multiple shipping lines now calling at Lekki Port, companies benefit from greater flexibility in scheduling, competitive freight rates, and diversified routing options. This connectivity is a major factor in attracting foreign direct investment. Investors now view LFZ not just as a Nigerian hub, but as a globally connected platform for production and distribution. In fact, several of our new FDI enquiries have specifically cited access to Lekki Port as a deciding factor in their investment considerations.
Q. Can LFZ now be considered a gateway for trans-shipment and manufacturing between India, West Africa, and global markets?
Yes, we believe LFZ has now positioned itself as a true gateway for trans-shipment and manufacturing between India, West Africa and global markets. With the Lekki Deep Sea Port integrated into our zone, Indian exporters can use LFZ not only as a springboard to distribute goods efficiently across West and Central Africa, but also as a platform that connects directly to Europe, Asia and the Americas. What makes us unique is the combination of world-class port access with a fully serviced industrial ecosystem. This allows companies to manufacture, assemble, and re-export competitively from within LFZ, cementing our role as a vital link in the India-Africa-global trade corridor.
Q. Beyond Tata, what level of interest or outreach have you observed from other Indian corporates, ranging from MSMEs to large enterprises, in integrating within the LFZ ecosystem?
We are encouraged by the strong interest we are seeing from Indian companies across all sizes and sectors. Beyond Tata, several large corporates are exploring opportunities in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, FMCG and engineering, attracted by LFZ’s integrated infrastructure and incentives. What excites me equally is the interest from Indian MSMEs, who see LFZ as a cost-efficient base to plug into growing supply chains in Africa. Many of these smaller businesses are now engaging with anchor tenants and exploring collaborative opportunities. Overall, the response reflects a growing recognition that LFZ offers both security and scalability, making it an ideal gateway for Indian companies looking to expand into West Africa and beyond.
Q. LFZ hosts industries such as FMCG, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering, paper, non-metallic minerals, and logistics. Which of these sectors do you see as early wins for Indian investors, and why?
For us, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and chemicals clearly stand out as early wins for Indian investors. Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing middle classes in Africa, creating strong demand for consumer goods, healthcare products and essential chemicals. Indian companies already have brand recognition and expertise in these sectors, which they can leverage by manufacturing locally within LFZ. Engineering and logistics also present opportunities, especially given our reliable power, port access and warehouse facilities. Overall, these sectors allow Indian investors to scale quickly, reduce supply chain costs and gain a competitive edge in West Africa, making LFZ an attractive and practical entry point into the region.
Q. Do you expect future multimodal integrations across road, rail, and air to further elevate LFZ as a continental logistics hub?
Yes, absolutely. LFZ’s competitiveness will be further enhanced by three major infrastructure developments:
- Road: The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is under construction and, once completed, will reduce travel time from Victoria Island to LFZ to just 45 minutes. This will provide fast, reliable access for business executives, investors, and cargo movement between the commercial capital and the Zone.
- Rail: Plans are in motion to extend the national railway network to the Lekki axis, which will connect LFZ and Lekki Port directly to Nigeria’s major ports and commercial centers. This will allow bulk cargo and containerized goods to move more efficiently inland, cutting transport costs and improving supply chain reliability.
- Airport: A new international airport has been announced for the Lekki corridor, close to LFZ. Once operational, it will serve both passenger and cargo traffic, enabling high-value and time-sensitive goods to be shipped directly from LFZ to global markets.
Taken together : road, rail, port, and airport – LFZ will offer a truly multimodal logistics platform. This integration will position LFZ as the most connected and efficient industrial hub in West Africa, ensuring speed, flexibility, and cost efficiency for investors.
Q. How is LFZ shaping its value proposition to serve as a bilateral trade platform between India and West Africa?
LFZ is positioning itself as the bridge that brings Indian innovation and competitiveness together with African demand and growth potential. We are shaping this value proposition in three ways. First, by offering a duty-free, fully serviced manufacturing base, Indian companies can localize production and re-export across West Africa under ECOWAS protocols. Second, we are creating sector-focused clusters, for example, in FMCG, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and chemicals that align with India’s global strengths and Africa’s immediate needs. Third, we are fostering partnerships between Indian enterprises and Nigerian distributors, logistics providers, and talent pools to build a bilateral ecosystem. In doing so, LFZ is not just a host for Indian investment but a platform for sustained India–West Africa trade integration.
Q. Are there plans to host trade fairs, India-Africa business summits, or sector-specific forums within LFZ to catalyse Indian investment and partnerships?
Yes, and in fact, we have already begun hosting delegations from India as well as from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas at the Zone. These visits allow prospective investors to experience our infrastructure firsthand, interact with existing tenants, and participate in structured B2B matchmaking sessions that connect them directly with Nigerian businesses and partners. LFZ has the necessary infrastructure and facilities to host an event like the India-Africa Business Forum, and we are willing to work with the relevant stakeholders to support such an initiative. By combining on-site visits with curated matchmaking and high-impact forums, LFZ is positioning itself as the premier hub for global investment dialogues and the natural gateway for partnerships between international businesses and the African market.
Q. What is the most compelling reason for an Indian exporter or industrialist to choose LFZ over existing routes into African markets?
If we had to highlight one reason for an Indian exporter or industrialist to choose LFZ, it would be speed to certainty. Here, companies benefit from world-class infrastructure, duty-free incentives, and direct access to the Lekki Deep Sea Port. Investors avoid the typical delays and uncertainties that come with other routes into Africa. Personally, we focus on ensuring that every business operating in LFZ experiences seamless regulatory approvals, reliable utilities, and integrated logistics. This combination allows Indian companies to enter the African market faster, operate efficiently, and scale confidently.
Q. Looking ahead two to three years, what milestone or achievement at LFZ would you consider a defining marker of success for Indian-Africa trade integration?
A defining milestone would be to see the establishment of a cluster of Indian-led manufacturing units within LFZ spanning sectors like FMCG, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and chemicals that not only serve Nigeria’s domestic market but also export competitively across West Africa and beyond. Success will also mean seeing Indian SMEs scale within LFZ, linking into African supply chains and creating employment locally. Another marker would be the launch of a dedicated India-Africa trade corridor operating through Lekki Port, with regular containerized shipments connecting Indian exporters directly to African markets. Achieving these outcomes within the next 2-3 years would firmly cement LFZ as the gateway for Indian businesses into Africa.
Conclusion
With its world-class infrastructure, strategic connectivity, and business-friendly policies, LFZ is shaping the future of India-Africa trade integration. For Indian enterprises navigating global uncertainties, LFZ stands as a competitive, scalable, and future-ready hub for manufacturing, logistics, and cross-border commerce.