NECA decries closure of Lagos factories over land dispute

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing closure of manufacturing and commercial facilities in the Dopemu industrial corridor of Lagos State, following a warrant of possession enforced by the Lagos State High Court Sheriff’s Department on 30 July 2026. NECA emphasized its respect for the judiciary and the rule of law, urging the Federal Government to facilitate an urgent, interim solution that safeguards jobs, protects investments, and mitigates the socio-economic consequences of the closures, pending final court determination.

NECA Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, stressed that the association is not interfering with the judicial process but highlighted the economic implications of the prolonged closure of productive enterprises. The affected corridor is a vital part of the Lagos-Ogun industrial axis, accounting for over 50 percent of Nigeria’s industrial output, making the situation a national economic concern.

Oyerinde warned that every day of operational paralysis translates into lost production, reduced incomes, supply chain disruptions, lower government revenues, and increased uncertainty for local and foreign investors. He appealed for an equitable arrangement that allows legitimate business operations to continue while the judicial process concludes, urging the Federal and Lagos State Governments to preserve jobs, sustain manufacturing activities, and protect investor confidence.