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…Says jobs, billions in investments at risk
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has sounded the alarm over the continued shutdown of manufacturing and commercial facilities in the Dopemu industrial corridor of Lagos State, warning that thousands of jobs, billions of naira in investment and Nigeria’s industrial recovery could be at risk, unless urgent action is taken.
The employers’ body called on the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene in the dispute that has led to the closure of several productive enterprises in the area, insisting that the economic consequences of allowing the shutdown to persist could be far-reaching.
The latest development followed the enforcement of a warrant of possession by the Lagos State High Court Sheriff’s Department on July 30, 2026, in a longstanding land dispute. The enforcement has resulted in the suspension of operations by businesses located within the affected industrial corridor.
While stressing that it fully respects the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law, NECA said the court process should not prevent stakeholders from exploring lawful interim measures capable of protecting jobs and productive investments while the dispute is being resolved.
The association urged the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), together with the Lagos State Government, to immediately convene the parties for negotiations aimed at finding a workable interim solution.
NECA Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said the association was not questioning the authority of the courts or attempting to interfere with judicial proceedings, but was concerned about the economic damage caused by prolonged factory closures.
“We fully respect the judicial process and are not seeking to interfere with ongoing court proceedings. However, there is an equally compelling public interest in ensuring that businesses employing thousands of Nigerians are not subjected to prolonged operational paralysis while legal issues are being resolved,” Oyerinde said.
He described the situation as a matter of national economic importance, pointing out that the affected Dopemu corridor forms part of the Lagos-Ogun industrial axis, which he said accounts for more than 50 per cent of Nigeria’s industrial output.
According to the NECA chief, the consequences of the shutdowns are already extending beyond the affected companies, with potential implications for workers, suppliers, transport operators, consumers, government revenue and the broader investment climate.
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“Every day that factories remain shut translates into lost production, reduced incomes for workers, disruption of supply chains, lower government revenues and increased uncertainty for both local and foreign investors,” Oyerinde warned.
He said the timing of the industrial closures was particularly troubling because manufacturers were already faced with high energy costs, foreign exchange volatility, expensive credit and weak consumer demand.
“At a time when manufacturers are already grappling with high energy costs, foreign exchange volatility, elevated borrowing costs and weak consumer demand, prolonged operational shutdowns could further undermine Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness and economic recovery,” he added.
Oyerinde further warned that allowing productive facilities to remain idle for an extended period could undermine FG’s industrialisation drive, including its efforts to promote local manufacturing, reduce dependence on imports, attract investment and create sustainable jobs.
“This is not about individual companies; it is about preserving Nigeria’s productive capacity and reinforcing investor confidence,” he said, stressing that investors needed confidence that legitimate businesses would not suffer avoidable economic dislocation while disputes were being resolved through due process.
NECA consequently urged the Federal and Lagos State governments to move quickly to facilitate an equitable interim arrangement that would allow legitimate economic activities to continue where appropriate without undermining the authority of the courts.
“Our appeal is straightforward. We urge government at both levels to work with all relevant stakeholders to find a balanced solution that upholds the rule of law while safeguarding jobs, sustaining critical manufacturing activities, protecting investor confidence and preventing avoidable socio-economic hardship,” Oyerinde said.
The association warned that Nigeria could not afford to lose productive enterprises and livelihoods at a time when the country was striving to strengthen its industrial base and attract fresh investments.
NECA therefore called for immediate, pragmatic action to prevent the Dopemu dispute from becoming a wider threat to jobs, manufacturing output and investor confidence.
